Al-Hilal Clinches King's Cup Victory Over Al-Nassr In Tense Penalty Shootout
Al-Nassr faced a dramatic defeat in the Kings' Cup final against Al-Hilal on Friday, with the Saudi Pro League champions securing a treble through a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win. The match featured three red cards, adding to the intensity of the encounter.
Former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for Al-Hilal after just seven minutes, heading home at the back post. Cristiano Ronaldo was later denied by Yassine Bounou, keeping Al-Hilal in the lead. The game took a turn when David Ospina was sent off for a reckless challenge on Malcom outside his penalty area shortly after half-time.
The match saw another twist when Ali Al Bulayhi received his second yellow card, reducing Al-Hilal to ten men. Aiman Yahya capitalised on this advantage to equalise for Al-Nassr in stoppage time. However, Al-Hilal lost another centre-back, Kalidou Koulibaly, who was shown a red card for a foul on substitute goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah.
Neither team managed to score in extra time, leading to a penalty shoot-out. Bounou emerged as the hero for Al-Hilal, saving Meshari Al Nemer's weak attempt after Ali Al Hassan and Saud Abdulhamid had both missed their kicks. This secured the trophy for Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal's Domestic Sweep
Al-Hilal's victory in the Kings' Cup capped off a perfect domestic season. They also won the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League, remaining unbeaten throughout their league campaign. This triumph marked their 11th Kings' Cup win, with only Al-Ahli having more titles (13).
Al-Nassr's Trophy Drought Continues
For Al-Nassr, this defeat extended their domestic trophy drought to four seasons. Their only silverware for the 2023-24 season remains August's Arab Club Champions Cup.
@Alhilal_EN May 31, 2024
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