Ronaldo breaks Saudi Super Cup scoring duck as Al-Nassr set up final with Al-Hilal

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring in Al-Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Super Cup. (X: @AlNassrFC_EN)
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Updated 15 August 2024
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Ronaldo breaks Saudi Super Cup scoring duck as Al-Nassr set up final with Al-Hilal

  • The Portuguese star netted the second in his team’s 2-0 semifinal win over Al-Taawoun; Brozovic sent off late on

ABHA: Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke his Diriyah Saudi Super Cup duck as Al-Nassr secured a spot in this year’s final.

Luis Castro’s team beat Al-Taawoun 2-0 in Abha on Wednesday and will meet Saudi Pro League champions and Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal in Saturday’s final.

Ayman Yahya gave Al-Nassr an eighth minute lead by scoring from just inside the six-yard box after a fine run and cross from the left by Sadie Mane.

Ronaldo, who had previously failed to hit the mark in the Saudi Super Cup, scored after 57 minutes with a firm low shot after receiving the ball from right-back Sultan Al-Ghannam. The Portuguese star celebrated in his traditional manner, delighting inside the stadium.

 

 

Al-Nassr’s Croatian midfielder, Marcelo Brozovic, was sent off in stoppage time but by then it was too late for Al-Taawoun to take advantage.

Al-Nassr lost their 2022 and 2023 semifinals against Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal respectively.

Ronaldo and Al-Nassr now have the chance to claim the club’s third Super Cup since the competition’s inception in 2013, and the first since it pivoted to a four-team tournament two years ago.


Mid East Falcons secure United Series spot after victory over Arabia Wolves

Updated 12 sec ago
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Mid East Falcons secure United Series spot after victory over Arabia Wolves

  • Abu Dhabi franchise’s 8-2 win secures place in season-ending series against Mumbai Cobras

DUBAI: Jake Hjelle went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Kazuki Yabuta pitched 5.2 innings, allowing only two hits and two runs, to lead the Mid East Falcons to an 8-2 win over Arabia Wolves at Baseball United Ballpark on Saturday.

The win secured a top two finish in the Baseball United Season 1 standings for the Abu Dhabi franchise, and with that a place in the United Series against Mumbai Cobras.

Hiroyuki Nakajima went 1-for-2 with one run scored and two RBIs, while Gregori Cano batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and Alejandro de Aza went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, to highlight Mid East’s offense in Game 2 of a doubleheader.

Kazuki Yabuta earned the victory after 5.2 innings, in which he allowed two hits, two earned runs, six walks and one strikeout. Kodai Hamaya (0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB) and Severino Gonzalez (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) completed the pitching line for Falcons.

This result means the Falcons will face the Cobras in the fight for the Baseball United championship when they meet in the United Series starting on Dec. 12; it will be a best-of-three series to be played at Baseball United Ballpark.

Other highlights

  • Jacinto Cipriota, the standout man in the Wolves offense, was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
  • Akeem Bostick took the loss, after 2.1 IP in which he allowed one hit, three earned runs and one walk. 
  • Wolves conceded 17 runs in this double header, with only 7 runs scored.
  • Wolves now have a 4-4 record. They will hope to finish the regular season above .500 after Sunday’s game.