RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Reigning champions Al-Ittihad secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr in the Round of 16 of the King’s Cup of Champions on Tuesday night, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s side from the competition.
The highly-anticipated clash at Al-Awwal Park was a tense affair, with Al-Ittihad pulling off a gritty win despite playing the majority of the second half with ten men.
⚽ Match Summary
Al-Ittihad drew first blood in the 15th minute when French superstar Karim Benzema slotted the ball home following a sharp counter-attack. Al-Nassr responded 15 minutes later, with Angelo finding the back of the net after a deflection from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross.
However, Al-Ittihad snatched the lead back just before the break, with midfielder Houssem Aouar restoring his side’s advantage with a clinical finish.
🟥 Second Half Drama
The match took a dramatic turn immediately after the restart. In the 49th minute, Al-Ittihad defender Ahmed Al Julaydan was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge.
Despite the numerical superiority for the remainder of the game, Al-Nassr, which featured other high-profile like Sadio Mané and João Félix, struggled to break down a resilient Al-Ittihad defense. Cristiano Ronaldo had several opportunities but failed to find the crucial equalising goal, leaving Al-Nassr fans frustrated.
The final whistle confirmed the 2-1 defeat for Al-Nassr, marking a significant setback for the team in their pursuit of silverware this season. Al-Ittihad’s victory allows them to advance to the quarterfinals to continue their title defense.
