Mueez Ajao
– Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting for his first Al Nassr goal after his new team were beaten by Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup on Thursday.
– Ronaldo had made his debut for Al Nassr in a 1-0 win over Ettifaq four days earlier.
– That result saw Al Nassr go top of the Saudi Pro League, two places above Al-Ittihad.
Also Read: Ronaldo debuts in Al Nassr win over Ettifaq
– But Al-Ittihad, managed by former Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, were much better than Ronaldo and Co in the first half of Thursday’s Saudi Super Cup semi-final.
– Brazilian Romarinho fired Al-Ittihad in front on the quarter-hour mark.
– Morocco striker Abderrazak Hamdallah then headed home to make it 2-0 in the 43rd minute, moments after Ronaldo had missed an opportunity to equalize at the other end.
– Talisca gave Al Nassr hope with a sweet left-footed strike midway through the second half.
– But Al-Ittihad secured victory in added time when Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti finished off a counter-attack.
– Al-Ittihad will now play Al-Fayha in the Saudi Super Cup final on Sunday.
Full time
Alittihad 3-1 Alnassr
Romarinho ⚽️’16
Hamdallah ⚽️’44
Shanqeeti ⚽️’90+
To the final 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/HQRF5GUhwJ
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) January 26, 2023
– Al-Fayha, last season’s King Cup winners, beat reigning national champions Al-Hilal 1-0 in Thursday’s other semi-final.
🔚| الفيحاء طرف أول في نهائي كأس بيرين للسوبر السعودي بعد فوزه على شقيقه الهلال 1-0#الفيحاء_الهلال #كأس_السوبر_السعودي pic.twitter.com/VTQzPES5gd
— كأس السوبر السعودي (@SaudiSuperCup) January 26, 2023
