In a thrilling football match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Al Hilal emerged victorious over their arch-rivals Al Nassr to claim the King Cup. Despite both teams receiving three red cards each and the match ending 1-1 after regular and extra time, Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Bono’s heroics led them to victory in the penalty shootout. Al Hilal initially took the lead through Aleksandar Mitrović, but Al Nassr equalized through Ayman Yahya in the 87th minute, sending the game to extra time. Goalkeeper Bono played a crucial role for Al Hilal, saving two penalty kicks and making key saves during the match to keep his team in contention.
Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus made minimal changes to Al Hilal’s lineup for the match, only replacing one player due to suspension. The lineup included goalkeeper Bono, defenders Lodi, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Koulibaly, and Saud Abdulhamid, midfielders Rúben Neves, Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari, Malcom, and Michael, with Mitrović leading the attack. On the other hand, Al Nassr’s coach, Luis Castro, substituted one player in response to suspension, with Ospina in goal, a defense of Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdullah Al-Amri, Ali Lajami, and Alex Telles, midfielders Brozović, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Otávio, Ayman Yahya, and Sadio Mane, and Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attack.
Al Hilal took an early lead in the match through Mitrović, who converted a cross from Malcom in the seventh minute. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s standout shot being saved by Bono in the first half, Al Nassr dominated large parts of the game. The second half saw Jesus substitute Lodi with Yasser Al-Shahrani, and Ronaldo almost scoring with a bicycle kick hitting the post. Al Nassr faced a setback when their goalkeeper Ospina received a red card in the 56th minute, while Al Hilal’s defender Ali Al-Bulayhi was also sent off later in the match. Al Nassr equalized in the 87th minute, and with both teams receiving red cards, the match went into extra time and eventually the penalty shootout.
Despite being numerically disadvantaged, Al Hilal triumphed in the penalty shootout thanks to goalkeeper Bono’s heroics. The match was a dramatic encounter with both teams displaying strong performances. Al Hilal’s victory over their traditional rivals Al Nassr in the King Cup final was a testament to their determination and resilience throughout the match. With the win, Al Hilal secured the prestigious title and celebrated their success in front of their fans at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. The thrilling match will be remembered for the intense competition and the exceptional performances of both teams, showcasing the passion and excitement of football in Saudi Arabia.
