The first semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup took place yesterday (Aug. 19) at Hong Kong Stadium. Despite being reduced to 10 men on the pitch in the 25th minute of the first half, Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), saw him play the entire match and step up in the second half with a crucial assist for João Félix to score, helping Al Nassr defeat Al Ittihad 2-1 in front of over 30,000 fans and advance to Saturday's final.
About three hours before the match began, the entire Causeway Bay area was transformed into a sea of yellow, bustling with crowds, and the queue even extended to the media entrance at the stadium's west gate.
Inside the venue, it was packed to capacity. Various booths were set up, allowing fans to change into Middle Eastern attire for personal photos, turning the Saudi Super Cup into a grand football festival.
Fan: First-class atmosphere in HK
The Saudi Super Cup attracted fans from around the world. Among them, Ms. Jin traveled from Guizhou to Hong Kong to watch the match, dedicating her first experience to Ronaldo.
"This is my first time watching a foreign team play. I've been a fan of Ronaldo for 20 years and am a long-time supporter of the Portuguese superstar."
Ms. Jin believes Ronaldo's professional attitude is worth learning from. "He is positive, self-disciplined, and always striving for improvement." What excited her even more was finally getting to take a photo with her idol. "I waited outside his hotel ever since he arrived in Hong Kong, hoping to take a picture with Ronaldo. I never thought I'd succeed, and there were even staff members helping out!"
Regarding this Saudi Super Cup, Ms. Jin described it as "exceptionally good."
"Both the atmosphere and the experience were top-notch! I hope the next edition of the Saudi Super Cup will continue to be held in Hong Kong."
Both teams fielded their strongest lineups for the match. For Al Nassr, Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Félix, and newly signed Kingsley Coman all started. Ronaldo, wearing the captain's armband, led the team out for warm-ups and was immediately met with applause from the fans, with many raising their phones to take pictures. On Al Ittihad's side, Karim Benzema, Fabinho, and N'Golo Kanté, among others, also started.
Al-Qadisiyah vs. Al Ahli Today
Early in the first half, Al Nassr already posed a threat. Mané broke through to the byline and crossed, with Ronaldo attempting a first-time shot. Coman, arriving at the far post, failed to hit the target with his follow-up. However, Al Nassr still managed to find the net in the 10th minute. Mané received a cross from a teammate in the box and volleyed it into the goal. The trailing Al Ittihad equalized in the 16th minute with a goal from Steven Bergwijn. In the 25th minute, Mané, who had helped Al Nassr take the lead, intentionally fouled Al Ittihad's goalkeeper. After reviewing the VAR, the referee showed him a red card.
Just before halftime, Ronaldo, who had few touches in the match, took a free kick but failed to hit the target. In the second half, it was finally Ronaldo's time to shine. He dribbled into the box on a breakaway and passed across to Félix, who scored from close range, putting Al Nassr ahead again 2-1. Ultimately, Al Nassr held on to this scoreline to defeat their opponents and advance to the final. Additionally, the organizers announced an attendance of 30,653 for the match.
In other news, the other semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup will take place tonight, with Al-Qadisiyah facing off against Al Ahli (broadcast live on RTHK32 at 8:00 p.m. tonight).
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Cheung Fa-yi; English Editor: Darius)
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