Al Nassr claimed a superb 2-1 victory over Al Ittihad despite being reduced to 10 men, booking their place in the Saudi Super Cup final.
Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for an elusive piece of Saudi silverware took him to this week's four-team tournament in Hong Kong. Ronaldo was supported by Sadio Mane and new recruits Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman in attack and Mane smartly volleyed Al Nassr ahead in the 10th minutes.
The lead was short-lived as Steve Bergwijn converted Moussa Diaby's low cross, and the reigning Saudi Pro League champions were favourites to get the job done when Mane was sent off for plunging his studs into the midriff of Al Ittihad goalkeeper Hamed Al-Shanqiti.
But Karim Benzema and his teammates failed to press home the advantage and produced a listless performance after halftime.
The decisive moment came after the hour when Ronaldo sprung the offside trap and unselfishly squared for his compatriot Joao Felix to finish. Felix had a second ruled out shortly afterwards when Ronaldo was penalised for a foul, before Jorge Jesus' side held out through a mammoth period of injury time.
Al Nassr will face the winner of the second semifinal between Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah in Saturday's final.
Al Nassr vs. Al Ittihad final score
| Score | Goalscorers | |
| Al Nassr | 2 | Mane 10', Joao Felix 63' |
| Al Ittihad | 1 | Bergwijn 15' |
Starting lineups
Al Nassr (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Bento (GK) — 12. Boushail, 3. Simakan, 26. Martinez, 23. Yahya — 17. Al-Khaibari, 11. Brozovic — 21. Coman, 79. Joao Felix, 10. Mane — 7. Ronaldo
Al Ittihad (4-2-3-1, right to left): 47. Al-Shanqiti (GK) — 12. Mitaj, 2. Pereira, 6. Al Mousa, 13. Al-Shanqeeti— 7. Kante, 8. Fabinho — 19. Diaby, 10. Aouar, 34. Bergwijn — 9. Benzema
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Al Nassr vs. Al Ittihad highlights
Fulltime
Al Nassr hold out through eight minutes of stoppage time. Joao Felix is the hero. Ronaldo a picture of delight. It must be said, after facing reduced numbers for 65 minutes, that was pretty pathetic from Al Ittihad.
65 mins: Disallowed goal! Joao Felix thinks he has his second, it's a lovely clipped finish, but Ronaldo is penalised for a foul in the build-up. A let off for Al Ittihad, who have been woeful since the break.
SEPULTABA JOAO, 😳 pero una falta previa de #CR7 evitó que su equipo festejara el pase a semifinales por adelantado. #SSCenFOX ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/oDKemIbo4n
— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) August 19, 2025
63 mins: GOAL! The 10 men do lead! Ronaldo is instrumental as he darts clear, drawing the goalkeeper and laying it off for Joao Felxi to apply the finish. The goal stands after a VAR check for offside. Al Nassr 2-1 Al Ittihad
GOL DE JOAO FÉLIX A PASE DE CR7 💥 Los 'Bicho' Boys se adelantan a pesar de estar con 10 desde el 24'. #SSCenFOX pic.twitter.com/QDxgePz4uh
— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) August 19, 2025
48 mins: Oh, the 10 men should be ahead but Simakan plans his free header wide! Al Nassr 1-1 Al Ittihad
Halftime
Al Nassr get through to the interval all square with their reduced numbers after Mane went from hero to villain in quicktime.
25 mins: RED CARD! Sadio Mane is sent off! The former Liverpool favourite goes is played through and, when challenging Al-Shanqiti, he treads on the goalkeeper's stomach. The fact the goalkeeper already had the ball in his grasp when Mane made contact probably sealed his fate. Al Nassr 1-1 Al Ittihad
SE QUEDAN CON 10. Expulsado Sadio Mané. 🟥 #CR7 y compañía tendrá que remar contra corriente con 10 desde el minuto 24'. #SSCenFOX pic.twitter.com/ks5TuoIpvg
— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) August 19, 2025
15 mins: GOAL! Swift response from Al Ittihad through former Tottenham winger Bergwijn. Suspicions of offside against Diaby before he laid the ball on a plate for his teammate but the goal stands. Al Nassr 1-1 Al Ittihad
POCO DURÓ LA VENTAJA. Se empata el juego gracias al gol de Bergwijn. 🔥 ¡Apasionante semifinal! 😎 #SSCenFOX pic.twitter.com/0snifAOeTK
— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) August 19, 2025
10 mins: GOAL! Mane volleys home Brozovic's cross. Superb technique but the youngster Al-Shanqiti in the Al Ittihad goal will feel he might have done better. Al Nassr 1-0 Al Ittihad
¡GOL DE SADIO MANÉ! 💥 El equipo de #CR7 ya gana 1-0 en la final de la #SSCenFOX. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Di4R92YVAD
— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) August 19, 2025
5 mins: Huge let off for Al Nassr as goalkeeper Bento gifts the ball to Benzema. It feels like a matter of waiting for the net to bulge but Al Ittihad's star striker puts his shot wide. Al Nassr 0-0 Al Ittihad
Al Nassr vs. Al Ittihad lineups, team news
Al Nassr moved for a trio of European stars during this transfer window, signing Joao Felix from Chelsea, defender Inigo Martinez from Barcelona, and Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich.
All three start, with Joao Felix and Coman completing a front four alongside Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Abdulelah Al Amri is back at Al Nassr after spending last season on loan at Al Ittihad and is on the bench.
Al Nassr starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Bento (GK) — Boushail, Simakan, Martinez, Yahya — Al-Khaibari, Brozovic — Coman, Joao Felix, Mane — Ronaldo
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Al Ittihad begin the season without goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, who has a muscle injury. They signed Mohammed Al-Absi from Al Shebab but fellow youngster Hamed Al-Shanqity gets the nod between the posts.
Most of Al Ittihad's business this summer came from within the Saudi Pro League, signing Hamed Al-Ghamdi from Al Ettifaq and securing striker Ricardo Carballo from Jeddah. Al-Ghamdi is on the bench.
Al Ittihad starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Al Absi (GK) — Shanqeeti, Al Mousa, Danilo, Mitaj — Kante, Fabinho — Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn — Benzema
Injured: Rajkovic (muscle)
Suspended: None
Al Nassr vs. Al Ittihad live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes | Fubo, Foxsports.com |
| Canada | — | — |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | — |
| India | — | — |