LONDON: Asian Champions Al-Ahli claimed the Saudi Super Cup with a penalty shootout win over Al-Nassr in Hong Kong on Saturday after Cristiano Ronaldo made history by scoring his 100th goal for the Riyadh club.
The two teams drew 2-2 after 90 minutes of action, before Al-Ahli emerged victorious 5-3 on penalties.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo reached his century of goals for Al-Nassr, for whom he signed in December 2022. In doing so, he became the first player ever to reach three figures for four separate clubs after netting 450 times for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United and 101 for Juventus. Ronaldo is also the all-time leading international goalscorer with 138 — and counting — for Portugal.
Al-Nassr had the better of the first half but were unable to make their superiority count until they got a helping hand after 40 minutes. Ali Majrashi stopped a cross from Ayman Yahya with his hand and Ronaldo stepped up to fire the spot kick straight down the middle.
Al-Ahli were back on level terms inside added time of the first half. It was a fine strike. Enzo Millot found Franck Kessie in space on the edge of the area and the Ivorian curled a shot into the far corner for his third goal of the Super Cup.
Al-Ahli kept the momentum going for the second half and should have gone ahead with 20 minutes remaining but, somehow, Firas Al-Buraikan fired an Ivan Toney cross against the post from inside the six-yard box.
With seven minutes remaining, however, Marcelo Brozovic restored Al-Nassr’s lead with a rare goal. The Croatian dispossessed Kessie inside the area and then calmly finished into the bottom corner.
But with only a minute left on the clock, Brazilian defender Ibanez headed home a corner to take the game into a penalty shootout.
Ronaldo scored, but once his teammate Abdullah Al-Khaibari missed, it was all over as Al-Ahli ran out 5-3 winners to lift the trophy for the first time sine 2016.
Attention now turns to the Saudi Pro League season which kicks off on Thursday as Al-Nassr take on Al-Taawoun while Al-Ahli host the newly-promoted, and ambitious, Neom SC.
