Al Hilal Triumphs Over Al Nassr in Dramatic King Cup Final

Jeddah, The Gulf Observer: In a thrilling and fiercely contested King Cup final held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Al Hilal emerged victorious over their arch-rivals Al Nassr, securing the prestigious trophy after a dramatic match that ended 1-1 following regular and extra time. The encounter saw both teams reduced to eight men, with three red cards issued to each side.

The match’s intensity was palpable from the start, with Al Hilal taking an early lead through Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović, who converted a precise cross from Malcom in the seventh minute. Al Nassr, determined to equalize, dominated significant portions of the first half, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s standout shot brilliantly saved by Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Bono.

The second half saw further drama unfold. Al Nassr’s goalkeeper, David Ospina, received a red card in the 56th minute for handling the ball outside the box during a breakaway attack by Malcom, leaving Al Nassr at a numerical disadvantage. Despite this setback, Al Nassr continued to press for an equalizer.

Al Hilal’s defense faced increased pressure and began to retreat. The turning point came in the 87th minute when Al Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulayhi was sent off for striking an Al Nassr player. A minute later, Ayman Yahya leveled the score for Al Nassr with a brilliant header, sending the match into extra time.

As the game progressed into extra time, Al Hilal’s central defender Kalidou Koulibaly received a red card, further disadvantaging his team. Despite this, Al Hilal managed to hold off Al Nassr’s advances, with Bono making several crucial saves to keep his team in contention.

The match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. Bono’s heroics continued as he saved two penalty kicks, ensuring Al Hilal’s 5-4 victory in the shootout. This triumph secured Al Hilal’s King Cup title, much to the delight of their fans.

Al Hilal’s lineup, overseen by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, featured Bono in goal, with Lodi, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Koulibaly, and Saud Abdulhamid in defense. The midfield included Rúben Neves, Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari, Malcom, and Michael, while Mitrović led the attack.

Al Nassr, under the guidance of coach Luis Castro, fielded a lineup with Ospina in goal, and a defense comprising Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdullah Al-Amri, Ali Lajami, and Alex Telles. Their midfield consisted of Brozović, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Otávio, Ayman Yahya, and Sadio Mane, with Cristiano Ronaldo at the forefront.

The King Cup final was a testament to the fierce rivalry and high skill level of both teams, with Al Hilal ultimately prevailing through determination and the exceptional performance of their goalkeeper, Bono.