Cristiano Ronaldo scored an extra-time winner to have the last laugh as Al-Nassr lifted the Arab Club Champions Cup by beating Al-Hilal on Saturday.
In a cagey affair at the King Fahd Stadium, it was Al-Hilal who took the lead in the 53rd minute as Michael headed home from close-range. After scoring, the Brazilian decided to mock Ronaldo and performed his infamous ‘Siu’ celebration.
Al-Nassr responded well to going behind but were handed a major blow when Abdulelah Al-Amri was shown a red card on 71 minutes. However, that did not stop them from getting back into the game when Ronaldo struck his first of the night, tapping home after some excellent build-up play.
And despite going to nine-men for another red card, this time to Nawaf Boushal, Al-Nassr went in front for the first time in the game through that man Ronaldo. Seko Fofana’s effort hit the bar, before the 38-year-old was there to head into the back of the net in the eighth minute of extra-time.
The drama did not stop there, meanwhile, as Al-Hilal were awarded a penalty midway through extra-time. But VAR correctly overruled the decision as tempers flared. Ronaldo ended up leaving the field injured after being on the receiving end of two crunching tackles from ex-Chelsea man Kalidou Koulibaly.
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr held on though to secure the Arab Champions Club Cup. The former Manchester United forward was presented with the tournament’s Golden Boot after the match, although the injury to Ronaldo will be a concern ahead of Al-Nassr’s opening Saudi Pro League game against Al Ettifaq on Monday.
AFP via Getty Images)
The Saudi top division got underway on Friday as Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick for Al-Ahli in their opening day 4-1 victory over Al-Hazm. Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Allan Saint-Maximim, Roger Ibanez and Franck Kessie also featured for Al-Ahli as they started the season impressively.
Firmino’s exit from Liverpool may have surprised many after impressing for the Reds last season. Speaking back in March, Klopp admitted he was “surprised” at Firmino’s decision to leave Anfield, stating: “He told me. Surprised? Yes, a little bit but I was not hit by the surprise, actually it’s a normal thing to do.
“It could go two ways and it was one and I respect that a lot. He told me and then the only other thing he said is, ‘Now I want to bring this wonderful story to a positive end’. He is completely here and completely committed, how everybody can imagine and that’s all we need to know.”
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