Cristiano Ronaldo’s 20th goal of the season and a dazzling run and finish from Sadio Mane helped Al Nassr reach the semifinals of Saudi Arabia’s King Cup as the Saudi Pro League heavyweights survived a scare on their way to a comfortable win at Al Shabab.
In an entertainingly end-to-end contest at the Al Shabab Club Stadium, competition top scorer Yannick Carrasco wasted the chance to put the hosts ahead when he slipped and sent a 15th-minute penalty soaring over the crossbar, having been fouled by Abdulrahman Ghareeb for the spot kick.
Al Nassr punished their opponents 100 seconds later when Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana fired in from the rebound after goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu had beaten Mane’s shot away – and the second-placed side in the top flight overcame Carlos Junior’s equaliser from an unmarked header to score twice more before the break.
Carrasco had set up the Brazilian forward’s leveller with a corner but the Belgium international’s next delivery was seized upon in a lightning counterattack from one end to the other by Al Nassr, Mane charging the length of the pitch and slotting in via a one-two with Otavio.
Al Shabab vs Al Nassr result
| 1st half | 2nd half | Result | Goal scorers | |
| Al Shabab | 1 | 1 | 2 | Seko Fofana (17), Hattan Bahebri (90) |
| Al Nassr | 3 | 2 | 5 | Carlos Junior (24), Sadio Mane (28), Abdulrahman Ghareeb (45+4), Cristiano Ronaldo (74), Mohammed Maran (90+6) |
Starting lineups:
Al Shabab lineup (4-5-1): Kim (GK) – Al-Sagour, Santos, Saiss, H Al Yami – Kanabah, Al-Qahtani, Banega, Al Mowallad, Carlos, Carrasco – Radif
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Laporte, Lajami, Ayman — Brozovic, Fofana — Mane, Otavio, Ghareeb — Ronaldo.
Kim denied Ronaldo more than once before Ghareeb enjoyed more redemption, sweeping in on the stroke of halftime when Marcelo Brozovic’s cross from the left bypassed the Portugal skipper.
Ronaldo struck 16 minutes from the end of a quieter second half, Portugal team-mate Otavio locating his run with an exceptional pass to complete a slick one-two and allow the Saudi Pro League top scorer to slot in.
Substitute Hattan Behabri stabbed a late consolation for Al Shabab, who missed a succession of presentable chances before Sadio Mane shrugged off his marker to reach a ball on the edge of the penalty area and set up Mohammed Maran, who had replaced Ronaldo, for Al Nassr’s fifth.
Al Nassr are next in action when they host eighth-placed Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, who are managed by Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard and captained by Three Lions midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Al Shabab are 11th in the table and will seek to end a five-match winless run in all competitions on a visit to Al Fateh in the top flight on Friday.
Ronaldo and Mane two wins away from first King Cup trophy
The teams entered to plumes of smoke blowing around the pitch from the pyrotechnics in the stands, producing a raucous feel to proceedings which continued once this quarterfinal tie began.
With four goals to his name as this season’s top scorer so far in the competition, classy Carrasco seemed certain to give his side the lead after Ghareeb pulled him back inside the box, but his misfortune on a slippery turf spelled relief for Al Nassr, who swiftly went ahead.
Mane is not a player any manager wants to see surging through the centre of the pitch uninterrupted, and the Senegal striker took his time, released Otavio to his right as he entered the penalty area and met the return pass to stroke in.
Ronaldo and Al Nassr manager Luis Castro will not have been enamoured with the defending for their opponents’ goal seven minutes later, Carlos finding himself free to plunge a header beyond Nawaf Alaqidi from close range.
Al Shabab have struggled this season, sacking former boss Marcel Keizer after five games and languishing in the relegation zone when former Croatia international Igor Biscan was appointed.
They have struggled for goals and were always unlikely to score more than twice for the first time in almost three months, but the ease with which they stopped Al Nassr from registering a first clean sheet in four games will be a concern.
So too will be Bahebri’s late goal and the number of chances to score another they were afforded before Saudi Arabia striker Maran’s fifth.
The ever-demanding Ronaldo appeared to be reacting to his team’s defending as he held his head in his hands while sitting on the bench after going off. He is one step closer to winning the King Cup for the first time but, with an Al Hilal side who beat Al Nassr 3-0 this month still involved, his hopes of lifting the trophy look likely to depend on resolving defensive frailties.
More to follow
The Sporting News followed the match live, providing updates and highlights below.
MORE: Match report as Al Nassr beat Al Riyadh
Al Shabab vs Al Nassr live updates, highlights, commentary
Fulltime: Al Shabab 2-5 Al Nassr
A seven-goal cup tie, including three goals in 12 first-half minutes and three in 23 before the end.
Not sure if either manager would have enjoyed the at-times questionable defending which led to so many goals, but Al Nassr are through to the semifinals, while Al Shabab’s King Cup campaign is over!
90 mins +6: GOAL – Al Shabab 2-5 Al Nassr (Mohammed Maran)
Five for Al Nassr! Sadio Mane shows admirable tenacity at this stage of the match to shrug off his marker while chasing a ball on the edge of the box and square a pass to substitute Mohammed Maran, who scores.
90 mins +3: Al Shabab 2-4 Al Nassr
They’re going through, but the end of this match might not give Al Nassr an abundance of confidence for their league campaign.
Al Shabab have looked increasingly dangerous and would have scored another, had they been more clinical.
90 mins: GOAL – Al Shabab 2-4 Al Nassr (Hattan Bahebri)
A second for Al Shabab! Yannick Carrasco batters a bending shot from long range towards goal, and Nawaf Alaqidi can only beat it away.
Substitute Hattan Bahebri stabs a low shot in from the rebound to reduce the deficit to two again!
88 mins: Al Shabab 1-4 Al Nassr
Senegal’s Habib Diallo misses another good chance in front of goal. Cristiano Ronaldo has his head in his hands on the Al Nassr bench – presumably showing frustration with his team’s defending, rather than the wastefulness of the finishing.
86 mins: Al Shabab 1-4 Al Nassr
Habib Diallo scored 20 goals in 37 appearances for French club Strasbourg this season but he doesn’t demonstrate why as he lashes a finish against the side netting when well placed.
83 mins: Al Shabab 1-4 Al Nassr
Al Nassr have the luxury of substituting Cristiano Ronaldo. 22-year-old Saudi Arabia forward Mohammed Maran comes on for him.
80 mins: Al Shabab 1-4 Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo cuts inside the penalty area on the left and swings a shot into Kim Seung-gyu’s arms. Not an easy night for the goalkeeper, who hasn’t really been at fault for any of Al Nassr’s goals and has made several good stops.
77 mins: Al Shabab 1-4 Al Nassr
Ever Banega looks like he can’t decide between a cross and shot, lifting the ball behind. Al Shabab make more changes, perhaps suspecting the game is up.
74 mins: GOAL – Al Shabab 1-4 Al Nassr (Cristiano Ronaldo)
That is very likely to be Al Nassr through to the semifinals!
Cristiano Ronaldo locates Otavio just inside the penalty area with a low pass. His compatriot shows superb patience and perceptiveness, waiting before heeling a pass onto the run of Ronaldo around the corner, who’s in on goal and slots in.
The captain heads over to a corner to be mobbed!
71 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Unfortunate for Carlos Junior, who can’t continue because of injury. He’s helped to trudge off, and Hattan Bahebri replaces him.
Al Shabab will have to find something special during the closing 20 minutes or so.
68 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Al Shabab win a corner on the left. Yannick Carrasco, as usual, is over it, and Al Nassr head clear under their crossbar.
65 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Two changes for Al Shabab: Ever Banega and Habib Diallo replace Majid Kanabah and Abdullah Radif.
Someone’s got to find some inspiration quickly for them if they’re to make a memorable comeback and stay in this cup.
63 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Seko Fofana is on the receiving end of a horrible lunging challenge from Romain Saiss, plunging studs into his ankle.
The opening scorer winces with pain as he receives treatment. Saiss is rightly booked.
61 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Al Shabab’s Majid Kanabah sends a long-range drive wide. Long-serving former Argentina midfielder Ever Banega is being readied to come on for the hosts.
60 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Sadio Mane has a shot from inside the penalty area on the left saved. It looks like a flag is up.
59 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo tries to clip a dangerous delivery into the box, then Al Shabab attempt to apply pressure at the other end.
It’s not quite as frantic as the first half but it’s still an open game.
56 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Carlos Junior and Yannick Carrasco combine just outside the Al Nassr penalty area. They’ve both got quick feet, but Ali Lajami defends the danger well, winning a throw-in.
55 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Yannick Carrasco turns smartly inside the penalty area for Al Shabab. Al Nassr hack the ball behind, and the danger fizzles out.
52 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Al Nassr have had 12 of the 16 attempts on goal, six of the seven on target and more than 70% of possession. They’re always liable to give a goal or two away, though.
50 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Carlos Junior has a chance to shoot inside the penalty area after some generous defending from Al Nassr, sliding a tame low shot wide.
48 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
This looks like a tough task for Al Shabab, considering they’ve not scored more than once in any of their last five matches, failing to net twice along the way.
They’ve only scored three goals once this season, and that was almost three months ago.
46 mins: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Al Shabab restart the action, knowing they will need to score at least twice in 45 minutes if they are to keep their campaign going.
Halftime: Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr
Four goals in 45 minutes as Cristiano Ronaldo briskly makes his way back down the tunnel for the interval.
Al Nassr were relieved when Yannick Carrasco inadvertently took a rugby conversion approach to that early penalty.
Seko Fofana punished him with the opening goal less than two minutes later, but Carlos Junior equalised with an unchallenged header.
Sadio Mane rampaged through to restore his side’s lead four minutes later, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s strike shortly before the break has put the hosts well on course to make the semifinals of this competition again.
45 mins +4: GOAL – Al Shabab 1-3 Al Nassr (Abdulrahman Ghareeb)
More redemption for the man whose foul on Yannick Carrasco gave Al Shabab a penalty when the scoreline was goalless!
Marcelo Brozovic charges down the left just outside the penalty area and cuts a low cross back in front of goal. Cristiano Ronaldo misses it but Abdulrahman Ghareeb is there to slot in!
45 mins +1: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
Ayman Yahya hammers a decent effort from distance over the crossbar.
45 mins: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
There will be five minutes of added time here. Can Al Shabab find an equaliser before the break – or will Al Nassr make themselves more comfortable with a third?
42 mins: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
Let’s take a look at that Sadio Mane finish a little earlier.
ساديووووووووو مانيييييي pic.twitter.com/buXvGeYHXC
— داريو النصر (@Nfcdiario) December 11, 2023
39 mins: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
Carlos Junior fancies a second. He tries to reach a through ball approaching the penalty area through the centre, but Nawaf Alaqidi leaves his penalty area to successfully intervene.
36 mins: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
Sadio Mane is accused of felling his marker while trying to latch on to a pass. There didn’t appear to be a great deal in it, but there’s a prolonged break in play.
Al Shabab manager Igor Biscan appears to be wearing a bodywarmer as he paces the penalty area. Former clubs: Dinamo Zagreb (twice), a loan deal at Croatian side Samobor, five years at Liverpool and two at Panathinaikos.
33 mins: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
Hussain Alqahtani almost reaches a cross from the left inside the penalty area but Al Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi is out quickly to dive and intercept.
31 mins: Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
This is probably obvious for a game containing three goals during the opening 28 minutes, but the fans making themselves heard around this stadium have been well entertained in this half.
Neither side will be overjoyed with their defensive steadiness, though.
28 mins: GOAL – Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr (Sadio Mane)
Brilliant counterattack! Another Al Shabab corner leads to a goal, but not in the way they would have hoped. Sadio Mane collects the ball and sprints almost the length of the pitch with his usual blistering pace.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year – Victor Osimhen’s just won the latest version of that honour – bides his time before releasing Otavio inside the penalty area on the right.
The recipient returns the favour, sliding a low ball to Mane in front of goal, who converts. Al Nassr are back in front!
25 mins: Al Shabab 1-1 Al Nassr
Al Nassr are back on the attack, winning a corner.
24 mins: GOAL – Al Shabab 1-1 Al Nassr (Carlos Junior)
Al Shabab equalise! Yannick Carrasco whips a corner from the right towards the penalty area, where forward Carlos Junior is totally unmarked, planting a header down and beyond Nawaf Alaqidi.
Al Nassr’s defensive frailties are exposed again. This has been a great start to the game.
23 mins: Al Shabab 0-1 Al Nassr
Kim Seung-gyu parries a Cristiano Ronaldo strike away from close range! Ronaldo drills this one down into the turf and skipping up. It’s all Al Nassr at the moment.
22 mins: Al Shabab 0-1 Al Nassr
Seko Fofana is clearly full of confidence following that opening goal. The Ivory Coast midfielder curls a shot from distance not too high and wide of the target.
21 mins: Al Shabab 0-1 Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo miscues a scudding first-time shot from inside the penalty area as part of a flowing Al Nassr move.
It comes off an Al Shabab heel and goes behind for a corner.
20 mins: Al Shabab 0-1 Al Nassr
Fahad Al-Muwallad is booked for taking out Cristiano Ronaldo’s shins by a touchline. Not a great few minutes for Al Shabab, who need to change the momentum.
17 mins: GOAL – Al Shabab 0-1 Al Nassr (Seko Fofana)
That’s cruel on Al Shabab! One hundred seconds after Yannick Carrasco sent that penalty high over the crossbar, Al Nassr take the lead.
Seko Fofana plays in Sadio Mane as part of a slick move emanating from Al Nassr’s right. Mane’s strike is well saved by Kim Seung-gyu, the Fofana has continued his charge into the box on the right, where the ball falls kindly for him to sweep in an impressive first-time finish!
15 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
A penalty for the bloopers reel! Dangerman Yannick Carrasco slips as he steps up to take the penalty, skying it high over the crossbar!
Relief for Al Nassr. Anguish for Al Shabab. Very unfortunate.
14 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Penalty to Al Shabab! Abdulrahman Ghareeb hauls Yannick Carrasco back inside the penalty area. Not much doubt about that one.
Aymeric Laporte’s mood hasn’t brightened. He makes a point to an assistant referee but it’s hard to imagine what his case is.
13 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo almost scores! It’s a fine freekick, curled low and through the wall with the Portugal talisman’s usual immense power.
It’s not quite heading for the corner, so goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu produces a save he should have made to beat the ball away. He was unsighted because of the wall, so that’s still a commendably alert stop.
12 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Sadio Mane finds space inside the Al Shabab penalty area on the right but sends a low pass behind the run of Otavio, who was on goalscoring form against Al Riyadh on Friday.
Al Nassr then win a presentable freekick just outside the penalty area in the left channel. Cristiano Ronaldo starts a long run-up.
10 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Best chance of the first 10 minutes goes to the hosts! Abdullah Radif meets a low cross from the right at the near post and almost gets in a shot on goal that would almost certainly have threatened the opener.
Ali Lajami tracks back and sends in an important challenge to divert the ball behind.
7 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
That earlier flashpoint involving Aymeric Laporte is reignited.
The original target of the defender’s ire, Abdullah Radif, goes down in a heap on the halfway line, the accusation appearing to be that Laporte swung an arm back into the 20-year-old striker’s face.
Laporte makes his case to the referee. A replay seems to show that there was contact but nothing obviously punishable.
4 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Al Nassr defender Aymeric Laporte is incensed about something.
Then Sadio Mane tries to sprint on to a ball over the top. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu comes out to beat the ball away, and an offside flag is raised.
2 mins: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo concedes a foul for a tussle with Majed Kanabah near the halfway line. The striker gives the referee that familiar look of grinning incredulity, as if the official has simultaneously suggested that the grass on the pitch is blue and delivered his assessment with immaculate comic timing.
Theatricality is never far away when the Al Nassr skipper is involved.
1 min: Al Shabab 0-0 Al Nassr
Quite the visual spectacle here: the stands look full and kickoff appeared to be slightly delayed because of the amount of smoke coming off pyrotechnics among fans.
Al Nassr start the action!
20 mins to kickoff: Al Shabab have a strong record in this competition, lifting the trophy in 2008, 2009 and 2014 and reaching the final in 2013.
They’re 11th in the Saudi Pro League and 20 points behind Al Nassr, but they certainly have the players and pedigree to pull off an upset tonight.
40 mins to kickoff: Here’s how Al Shabab start. Yannick Carrasco is the top scorer in this season’s King Cup, with four goals.
⚽️ Tonight’s match lineup:
Good luck for our LIONS 🦁🖤#ShababFC #Alshabab #YallaShabab pic.twitter.com/1wmog7635w— AlShabab Saudi Club (@AlShabab_EN) December 11, 2023
1 hour to kickoff: Teamsheets in! The main news for Al Nassr is that Alex Telles still isn’t fit to be involved. Other than that, with the exception of the suspended Talisca, it’s the usual strong side for the visitors.
🗒 || Starting lineup,@AlNassrFC vs #Alshabab pic.twitter.com/agjKugeU0y
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 11, 2023
1 hour 20 mins to kickoff: No surprises for guessing what’s happened in Al Hilal’s quarterfinal this afternoon: they’ve won 3-0 at home to Al Taawoun.
Unbeaten in the first 16 matches of the top-flight season, the Saudi Pro League leaders have continued their strong form in the cup, with Aleksandar Mitrovic – second only to Cristiano Ronaldo in the division’s top-scorer rankings – netting once today.
Elsewhere, Al Khaleej won 2-1 at Abha to ensure they will join Al Hilal in the final four.
1 hour 40 mins to kickoff: Al Shabab were knocked out of this competition on penalties by Al Ittihad in the round of 16 last season, while Al Nassr were surprisingly beaten 1-0 in the semifinals by Al Wehda, who then lost 7-6 on penalties to Al Hilal.
As well as being seven points clear of Al Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League, Al Hilal are still in this season’s King Cup. They play Al Taawoun today.
Ronaldo & Brozo 😂💛 pic.twitter.com/d7BnSFnjF9
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 10, 2023
2 hours to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of today’s King Cup quarterfinal between Al Shabab and Al Nassr.
Both of these teams needed extra time to reach this stage of the competition, Sadio Mane scoring the only goal of the game as Al Nassr beat Al Ettifaq on the same day as Al Shabab came from behind to win 2-1 at Al Fateh with two Yannick Carrasco goals.
Will today’s match go beyond 90 minutes or are we in for a more straightforward cup tie? We’ll have build-up, team news and minute-by-minute updates on the way!
Al Shabab vs Al Nassr lineups, team news
Al Shabab were not known to have any injuries or suspensions affecting their squad for this fixture.
The same could not be be said for their Saudi Pro League schedule after Banega and Colombia midfielder Gustavo Cuellar were both sent off during their 0-0 draw at home to Al Ettifaq in their previous match on December 7.
Al Shabab lineup (4-5-1): Kim (GK) – Al-Sagour, Santos, Saiss, H Al Yami – Kanabah, Al-Qahtani, Banega, Al Mowallad, Carlo,s Carrasco – Radif
Anderson Talisca was unable to immediately continue his prolific form because the forward was suspended after being sent off in Al Nassr’s win in the Round of 16.
Manager Luis Castro played a full-strength side in that game, and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Otavio and Aymeric Laporte featured again here.
Left-back Alex Telles missed out against Al Riyadh after being assessed on the day of the game and remained unable to be involved.
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Laporte, Lajami, Ayman — Brozovic, Fofana — Mane, Otavio, Ghareeb — Ronaldo.
MORE: Full Al Nassr fixtures
Al Shabab vs Al Nassr live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes | Fubo, Fox Sports app/website |
| Australia | — | – |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | DAZN | DAZN |
