Jobaaj Stories
In a dramatic and closely contested final, Al Hilal emerged victorious against Al Nassr, winning 5-4 on penalties to clinch the King’s Cup of Champions at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. This win marks Al Hilal's second consecutive King Cup title and their third trophy of the season, following victories in the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League.
The match started with high energy, with Sadio Mane getting the first big chance for Al Nassr in the sixth minute, only to miss the target. Moments later, Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring, heading in a precise cross from Malcom, putting Al Hilal in the lead.
📄 #AlHilal is the Champion of the King’s Cup, and the Season’s Treble, and the title number 69 👏🏻
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) May 31, 2024
Congratulations #HistoryMakers 🏆💙 pic.twitter.com/mgwhihWDGW
Despite dominating much of the first half, Al Nassr struggled to find the net, largely due to the outstanding performance of Al Hilal's Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who made several crucial saves. The second half saw continued pressure from Al Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo coming close to scoring with a spectacular bicycle kick that struck the post just two minutes after the restart.
Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears after Al Hilal defeated Al Nassr in the King's Cup! 🥺
— Sportskeeda Football (@skworldfootball) May 31, 2024
Despite scoring 4️⃣4️⃣ goals and providing 1️⃣3️⃣ assists this season, he ends without a single title. Heartbreaking for the GOAT! 💔#CristianoRonaldo #AlNassr #Football pic.twitter.com/RwA1P7XQfv
The match took a turn in the 56th minute when Al Nassr's goalkeeper, David Ospina, was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area in an attempt to clear it from an advancing Malcom. Despite being reduced to ten men, Al Nassr continued to press forward but were repeatedly thwarted by Bounou's exceptional goalkeeping.
In a twist of events, Al Hilal's defender Ali Albulayhi was sent off in the 86th minute for an off-the-ball incident, leveling the playing field. Ayman Yahya took advantage of the ensuing confusion, heading in a long throw-in to equalize for Al Nassr.
Shortly after, Al Hilal faced further challenges as their other center-back, Kalidou Koulibaly, received a second yellow card for a dangerous foul. Down to nine men, Al Hilal relied heavily on their bench strength to endure the remainder of the game and force the match into extra time.
The penalty shootout saw both teams initially falter, with misses from Ruben Neves and Alex Telles. However, Ronaldo and Mitrovic successfully converted their spot-kicks, keeping the scoreline tight. Al Nassr's second-choice goalkeeper, Waleed Abdullah, momentarily gave his team the upper hand by saving Saud Abdulhamid's penalty.
Yet, Bounou's heroics were not over. He saved Ali Al Hassan’s penalty, keeping Al Hilal's hopes alive. Nasser Al Dawsari then scored for Al Hilal, putting the pressure back on Al Nassr. The match was decided when Bounou saved Meshari Al-Nemer's penalty, sealing the victory for Al Hilal.
WATCH: Al Hilal lift King's Cup title beating #AlNassr on penalties#football https://t.co/yEjVqdJ5OA
— News9 (@News9Tweets) June 1, 2024
This victory solidifies Al Hilal’s dominance in Saudi football, adding another prestigious title to their collection this season. The win also highlights the resilience and skill of their squad, particularly in overcoming significant challenges during the match.
For Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr, it was a disappointing end to a fiercely contested final. The team will look to regroup and aim for success in upcoming competitions.
