In a thrilling encounter at the Hong Kong Stadium, Al Nasr defeated their arch rivals Al Ittihad 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup to book their place in the final.The match was full of emotions, with both teams showcasing their resilience, skill and determination, but ultimately Al Nasr kept their composure under pressure.
Led by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, the team displayed exceptional spirit despite the challenge of playing with ten men after receiving a red card mid-way through the game. From the start, the game was a thrilling and closely contested contest.
Al Ittihad went on the offensive and looked to dominate from the start, but Al Nasr’s defence held firm. The turning point came at the start of the second half when young forward Felix made a decisive impact. He scored his first goal in the 52nd minute, a precise shot that beat the goalkeeper to send Al Nasr fans into a frenzy.
Not satisfied with one goal, Felix scored again shortly after, this time with a superb finish inside the box in the 66th minute. The goal was initially ruled off, but a VAR review confirmed its validity and extended Al Nasr’s lead to 3-1. Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in the match and showed his vision and experience by providing an assist.
His excitement was evident as he celebrated Felix’s second goal, which enthralled his teammates and fans. Ronaldo’s leadership was evident throughout the game, inspiring his team to keep pushing forward even in the face of adversity. Despite falling behind by a goal, Al Ittihad did not give up and eventually mounted a stunning comeback.
They worked hard and created several dangerous chances, but Al Nasr’s defence held firm. There was a moment of controversy when Al Ittihad had a goal disallowed for offside, which also involved Ronaldo and Felix. The decision sparked debate among fans and commentators, but the decision stood and Al Nasr maintained their lead.
As the final whistle blew, Al Nasr players celebrated their hard-earned victory. The match displayed the qualities of a true competitive contest—passion, skill and unwavering determination. With this win, Al Nasr entered the final with the intention of winning the prestigious Saudi Super Cup title and cementing their position as one of the top teams in the region.
Fans left the stadium full of excitement, and were already eagerly awaiting the final and their team’s chance to lift the trophy. In a match full of tension and intensity, Nasr’s captain felt a deep sense of disappointment. Despite his best efforts throughout the game, he was unable to score, leaving him disappointed and hoping for a different result.
The scoreboard reflected a tight contest, with both teams tied at 1-1 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Steven Bergwijn. The early stages of the second half saw Nasr struggle to maintain control of the ball as Ittihad increased their pressure, especially from the flanks, forcing Nasr to face defensive challenges.
Amid the chaos, Nasr had a rare and promising chance. Brozovic delivered a precise cross that reached Simakan in the box, but the defender’s header narrowly missed the goal. The spectators held their breath when Benzema took advantage of a careless back pass from Nasr to pounce on the ball with a powerful shot – but Bento reacted quickly and cleared the ball out of danger.
The first half ended in a draw, although Nasr suffered a blow when Mane received a red card for a foul, which reduced their number of players and increased the pressure further. As the match progressed, both teams fought fiercely, knowing that every moment could decide the outcome. Nasr’s captain was keen to take charge.
Those watching the match from the sidelines were hopeful that their team would be able to bounce back from these setbacks, and were waiting for the big moment that would turn the game in their favour. The match between Al Nasr and Ittihad was a nail-biting one, with many dramatic moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
From the start, Al Nasr appeared to struggle in their set-piece execution, especially from free-kicks, as their attempts repeatedly missed the mark. The early difficulty created a tense atmosphere for the match, with Ittihad applying constant pressure and launching continuous attacks that tested the Al Nasr defence.
As the game reached the 25th minute, the intensity increased dramatically. Sadio Mane, in a moment of frustration or misunderstanding, ran over the Ittihad goalkeeper during a scramble for the ball. The referee immediately showed the red card, leaving Al Nasr with ten players.
There was clear disappointment at the decision, especially on the face of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose face showed a mix of disbelief and disappointment. Despite being one player short, Al Nasr refused to back down. They held their ground and created some excellent scoring chances, much to the delight and admiration of their supporters.
One notable chance came when Ronaldo received a superb pass from Koeman, who had been somewhat disappointing on the right throughout the match. However, Ronaldo’s shot was saved bravely by the goalkeeper, keeping the score tied. Koeman, although not at his best on the right, contributed in moments of offensive buildup, most notably assisting a brilliant run from Ronaldo that was eventually thwarted.
On the other side of the field, Ittihad’s Bergwijn remained a constant threat. His lively runs from the left earned several corners and kept Al Nassr’s defence on its toes, testing their organisation and resilience. The first 30 minutes of the match were extremely eventful, with two goals and a red card changing the momentum drastically.
The intensity and unpredictability of the game left fans eager to see how each team would adjust to the changing circumstances. With such a great start, it looked like this match was going to be a memorable encounter, full of passion, skill and drama at every turn. When the two teams regrouped during the halftime break, an even more exciting atmosphere was set for the second half.
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