Al-Hilal 1-1 Al-Nassr (5-4 pens): Ronaldo and company lose chaotic King´s Cup final

Al-Nassr lost a dramatic Kings’ Cup final featuring three red cards against Al-Hilal on Friday, with the Saudi Pro League champions claiming the treble with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win.

Former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic peeled away to the back post to head home the opener after just seven minutes, before Cristiano Ronaldo was denied by Yassine Bounou.

Al-Nassr looked to be imploding when David Ospina was sent off for a wild lunge on Malcom outside his penalty area shortly after half-time, but it was 10 versus 10 when Ali Al Bulayhi received his second yellow card late on.

Aiman Yahya took advantage to equalise in stoppage time, before Al-Hilal lost a second centre-back to a red card, Kalidou Koulibaly receiving his marching orders when he clattered into substitute goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah.

#AlHilal is the Champion of the King’s Cup, and the Season’s Treble, and the title number 69

Congratulations #HistoryMakers pic.twitter.com/mgwhihWDGW

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) May 31, 2024

Neither team could find an extra-time winner, though, and it was Bounou who came up with the goods in the shoot-out.

He pushed Meshari Al Nemer’s tame kick onto the post after Ali Al Hassan and Saud Abdulhamid had traded misses, claiming the trophy for Al-Hilal.

Data Debrief: Domestic sweep for Al-Hilal

Having also won the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League, going unbeaten throughout their league campaign, Al-Hilal capped a perfect domestic season with their 11th King’s Cup. Only Al-Ahli (13) have won the competition more often.

Al-Nassr, meanwhile, have now gone four seasons without a domestic trophy, with August’s Arab Club Champions Cup all they have to show for their efforts in 2023-24.