Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears, while Neymar cheered as Al Hilal beat Al Nassr in the King’s Cup of Champions final.
In normal time goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayman Yahya sent the match to extra-time then penalties where champions Al Hilal added another trophy to the cabinet.
4
With Neymar sidelined with injury it was down to five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo to shine and he came close to giving his side an incredible equaliser when he tried an outrageous bicycle kick before half-time.
While the former Manchester United star connected with the ball sweetly, his effort cannoned off the post while Al Hilal goalkeeper Bono could only watch.
Al Hilal ended up winning 5-4 on penalties where notable names Ruben Neves and Alex Telles missed from the spot. When Nasser Aldawsari scored the deciding penalty, Al Hilal players, including Neymar, celebrated retaining the Cup as a visibly upset Ronaldo was consoled as he walked off the pitch.
Neymar, who has not played since October due to a torn cruciate ran and jumped on top of his teammates and later posted a picture of himself with the trophy.
In normal time, former Al Nassr goalkeeper and former Arsenal star David Ospina was sent off 10 minutes after the break.
After former Barcelona ace Malcom was released down the middle, the Colombian rushed off his line and wiped the forward out as well as handballing outside of his box.
The referee had no choice but to send Ospina off, which signalled a brave substitution with ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane sacrificed.
4
4
4
But with time running out, Al Hilal saw two players sent off in the final minutes when Ali Albulayhi was given his marching order for two quick yellow cards when the ball was out of play.
Al Nassr then immediately equalised from the throw-in when Yahya headed home before further drama as Kalidou Koulibaly was also sent off for a second yellow when he was deemed to have kicked the goalkeeper in the final seconds of normal time.
The loss sees Al Nassr’s wait to win the competition go on, having not been victorious since 1990 – the year the cup was abandoned before it was restarted in 2007.
And their record against Al Hilal is miserable, too. They have not beaten them in their last five meetings, losing four with Ronaldo even being sent off for elbowing his opponent.
With one year currently left on his contract, Ronaldo will be desperate to get more joy over their rivals next term.