Al-Nassr has cemented their place in the King’s Cup final with a commanding 3-1 triumph over Al-Khaleej in the semi-final clash held at Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh.
Right from the outset, Al-Nassr asserted dominance, courtesy of an early goal by their Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo in the 17th minute. Ronaldo capitalized on a defensive lapse from Al-Khaleej’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic, who fumbled a pass from his teammate Ezekiel Lopez. Ayman Yahya played a pivotal role in the play, setting up Ronaldo for a precise finish.
The relentless pressure from Al-Nassr earned them a penalty in the 35th minute, as the ball struck an Al-Khaleej defender’s hand. Sadio Mane confidently stepped up and doubled their advantage with a clinical spot-kick.
Despite having a goal from Ayman Yahya disallowed for offside just before halftime, Al-Nassr maintained their attacking impetus in the second half. Ronaldo once again found the back of the net in the 57th minute, extending Al-Nassr’s lead with a well-taken strike.
Al-Khaleej managed to salvage a consolation goal through substitute Fawaz Al-Taris in the 83rd minute. Al-Taris capitalized on a moment of uncertainty from Al-Nassr’s goalkeeper, David Ospina, to score, but it proved insufficient to spark a comeback.
The victory for Al-Nassr sets the stage for a highly anticipated final showdown against their traditional adversaries, Al-Hilal, setting the scene for an intense battle for the coveted King’s Cup trophy.
