Ronaldo’s early trophy aspirations dimmed as Al Nassr lost 4-1 to Al Hilal, who secured their fifth Saudi Super Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Early Trophy Hopes Dashed as Al Nassr Falls to Al Hilal in Saudi Super Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo’s aspirations for an early-season trophy were thwarted on Saturday as Al Nassr faced a heavy 4-1 defeat to Al Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final. The loss marked a significant setback for Ronaldo and his team, who were hoping to kickstart the season with silverware.
In a match held at a packed stadium, Ronaldo, now in his third season with Al Nassr, initially appeared to give his team a promising edge. The Portuguese superstar opened the scoring with a well-timed goal in the 44th minute. Ronaldo capitalized on a precise cutback from the left flank, side-footing the ball into the net from six yards out. This goal gave Al Nassr a brief lead and raised hopes for a successful campaign.
However, the tide turned decisively in the second half. Al Hilal’s Serbian midfielder, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, brought the game level just 10 minutes after the break. Milinkovic-Savic fired a powerful shot into the net following a clever one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic. The goal shifted the momentum firmly in Al Hilal’s favor.
The decisive moment came just eight minutes later when Mitrovic put Al Hilal ahead. The Serbian striker scored with a header, connecting with a precise cross delivered by Rúben Neves. This goal further demonstrated Al Hilal’s growing dominance in the match.
Al Hilal’s advantage was extended in the 69th minute as Mitrovic struck again, this time taking advantage of a pass from Brazilian forward Malcom. Mitrovic’s close-range shot added to Al Hilal’s commanding lead. The final blow came just three minutes later when Malcom scored the fourth goal. The Brazilian forward capitalized on an error by Al Nassr’s goalkeeper, Bento, who mishandled a pass from Aymeric Laporte. Malcom pounced on the mistake, easily putting the ball into the net.
This emphatic victory secured Al Hilal their second consecutive Saudi Super Cup title and their fifth overall. The win further cements Al Hilal’s dominance in the competition, extending their lead over rivals Al Nassr, who have now been bested by Al Hilal in multiple domestic tournaments, including the Saudi Pro League and the Saudi King’s Cup, in the previous season.
For Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr, the defeat is a bitter reminder of their struggles against Al Hilal. Despite a promising start, the team could not maintain their momentum, leading to a disappointing end to their Super Cup campaign.
Looking ahead, the new Saudi Pro League season is set to commence on Thursday. Al Nassr will host Al Raed in their opening match, aiming to rebound from this setback and regain their form. The team’s focus will be on leveraging the new season as an opportunity to bounce back and achieve their goals, despite the early disappointment.