Cristiano Ronaldo was thwarted by an inspired goalkeeping performance as Jean-David Beauguel’s brilliant first-half bicycle kick sent Al Nassr crashing out of the King Cup semifinals against spirited 10-man Al Wehda.
Monir El Kajoui produced two sensational saves to deny Ronaldo, who shook his head and remonstrated with coaching staff as he left the pitch with Al Nassr behind at half-time to Beauguel’s acrobatic strike.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner sat on his haunches as the full-time whistle blew to signal a second successive defeat for Al Nassr’s and their cup exit, their lowly opponents – newly-promoted to the Saudi Pro League and 31 points below Ronaldo’s team – winning despite being reduced to 10 men.
Ronaldo blazed a freekick from the edge of the penalty area wildly over the crossbar after centreback Abdullah Al-Hafith fouled him to earn a second booking, then hit the crossbar with a first-time half-volley late on.
هدددددف!⚽️
د23′ الهدف الأول لـ الوحدة عن طريق بوغيلالنصر 0 × 1 الوحدة#كأس_الملك
#النصر_الوحدة | #SSC pic.twitter.com/OAUP6deZ3I— شركة الرياضة السعودية SSC (@ssc_sports) April 24, 2023
Al Nassr have now not scored in three consecutive matches in all competitions, while Ronaldo has gone two hours and 54 minutes without a goal for his out-of-sorts club.
The veteran thought he had scored before Al Nassr went behind but was denied in literally breathtaking fashion by El Kajoui, the brave goalkeeper taking Ronaldo’s volley from point-blank range square on the chest to somehow keep it from crossing the line.
El Kajoui produced another exceptional stop to tip Ronaldo’s shot away shortly after the restart, with Oscar Duerte making the first of his two goalline clearances during the game to repel Sultan Al-Ghanam’s header from the rebound.
Al Wehda held on for more than 40 minutes with a numerical disadvantage, helped by Al Nassr’s wastefulness from shooting and crossing opportunities. They will be huge underdogs against Al Hilal in the final.
More to follow
The Sporting News followed the match live and provided live score updates and commentary.
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Al Nassr vs. Al Wehda result
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Al Nassr | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Wehda | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals:
Al Wehda – Jean-David Beauguel, 23 mins
Al Nassr vs. Al Wehda live updates, highlights from King Cup
Fulltime: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Wehda are in the King Cup final! Cristiano Ronaldo is on his haunches as his side crash out against 10 men after failing to score for a third successive game!
The Saudi Pro League strugglers rejoice. This is an embarrassment for Al Nassr.
90 +6 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
High drama! A VAR check takes place for a potential penalty for Al Nassr for handball. No spot kick is awarded.
Cristiano Ronaldo leaps like a salmon to nod a cross from the left back into the centre of the penalty area at the far post. Luiz Gustavo heads the delivery towards goal, and Oscar Duarte clears off the line!
Monir El Kajoui is down and needs treatment after challenging Ronaldo for that ball. The striker is so good in the air.
90 +4 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Monir El Kajoui is booked for timewasting.
90 +3 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Almost three of the allocated seven additional minutes have been played. A cross from the left evades Talisca.
89 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Monir El Kajoui takes his time with a goal kick as we enter the final minute of regular time, then lumps it into the Al Nassr half.
Al Nassr are struggling to win the ball off their opponents on the flank.
87 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Typically from Al Nassr, another attack peters out with a cross going nearer a corner flag than the Al Wehda goal.
86 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Luis Gustavo tries to break free inside the penalty area on the left. Faycal Fajr sees the danger behind with a robust tackle.
85 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Wehda give Al Nassr a worrying moment with a corner from the right. They’ve had four of the 18 attempts.
83 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo thumps a first-time half-volley against the crossbar from close range!
The captain raises his eyes and arms to the sky. That sums up Al Nassr’s night so far.
79 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Wehda goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui – the likely hero, if they can hold out here – catches another harmless cross from the right.
76 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Interim Al Nassr manager Dinko Jelicic isn’t exactly inspiring the team, on this evidence. There’s a bit of a debate over whether a cross from his team has gone out of play or not, but it doesn’t make much difference when their accuracy is this low.
74 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo turns inside the penalty area on the left and sends a cross beyond anyone.
He hasn’t scored in 277 minutes.
71 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
This would be a second defeat on the spin for Al Nassr. They’re on course to go a third game without scoring.
69 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
There’s precious little to report in terms of penalty area action. Al Wehda do not look like a team with a man fewer, let alone near the foot of the Saudi Pro League playing opponents spearheaded by an all-time great.
66 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo goes down inside the box, although there isn’t much of an appeal for a penalty.
Al Nassr then run the ball out of play again. Their time in the cup is dwindling unless they can find something during the final quarter of regular time.
64 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr are pushing more effectively, but a combination of poor finishing and more inspired goalkeeping from Monir El Kajoui keeps them at bay.
61 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Another ball rolls behind for Al Nassr. As you’d expect, they’ve been dominant since establishing a man advantage – but they haven’t looked any more dangerous.
60 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr win a corner on the left. It’s an overhit delivery by Abdulrahman Ghareeb, and Monir El Kajoui leaps to catch.
57 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo wins a corner after entering the penalty area on the left. Al Nassr, again, fail to create danger from it.
55 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
It’s a dreadful freekick, by Cristiano Ronaldo’s standards. He blazes the opportunity high over the crossbar and into the stands.
Al Wehda, without one of their starting centrebacks and a man down, breathe a collective sigh of relief.
54 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo stands over the freekick in that familiar pose. This is extremely concerning for Al Wehda, positioned right outside the penalty area in a central position.
53 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Abdullah Al-Hafith is sent off for a second book after that reckless challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo!
Down to 10 men against a team far above them in the league, this will be an almighty achievement if they can hold on for more than 35 minutes to reach the final.
52 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo cuts inside from the left and is chopped down by Abdullah Al-Hafith on the edge of the penalty area.
50 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo charges into the penalty area and feeds Luiz Gustavo to his left, who flashes a low cross along the face of goal. There’s no-one there to meet it.
49 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Wehda clear off the line again!
47 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr could not come any closer to scoring right at the start of a second half that begins with Cristiano Ronaldo geeing up the crowd!
The captain connects with a header from Sultan Sami’s right-wing cross that is brilliantly kept out by goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui, who comes to Al Wehda’s rescue again.
Sultan Al-Ghanam then crashes a close-range shot towards goal from the rebound, only to see Oscar Duarte head off the line!
Halftime: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo shakes his head as he trudges off for the break, then shouts something and opens his arms out in front of some of his side’s coaching staff. There was one chance for Al Nassr in added time: Sultan Al-Ghanam sent a low cross from the right into the path of Abdulrahman Ghareeb in front of goal, who blew the chance by swiping at thin air.
Al Nassr have had eight of the 11 shots in this game but only two on target. Al Wehda have had one on target, and it was a beauty to put them ahead.
Whatever happens, you suspect Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal, who are in the final already, will not have seen much to concern them during that half.
45 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
There will be at least four minutes of added time in this half.
44 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Whoosh! Ali Alhassan breaks free inside the penalty area on the right and, from a tight angle, pelts a thunderous shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the far post.
That’s as close as Al Nassr have come since that early chance for Cristiano Ronaldo.
42 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr labour to deal with the corner, but goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi comes out to claim the ball on the left of the penalty area to end the ensuing attack by Al Wehda.
40 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
More danger for Al Nassr: Karim Yoda’s trickery wins his side a corner on the right, from where they took the lead.
38 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr waste a corner on the right. The side who are only five points above the Saudi Pro League relegation zone are closing in on a half-time lead.
36 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo tries to reach a ball inside the Al Wehda penalty area on the right but finds himself crowded out.
34 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr’s Talisca looks up outside the penalty area on the left and blazes a shot well over the crossbar.
That’s an indicator of how little inspiration his side have had since falling behind.
31 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Jaloliddin Masharipov sends in a cross-shot from the right. Goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui catches in the middle of his goal.
Al Nassr are toiling.
28 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
We’ve just seen a replay of Cristiano Ronaldo frustratedly telling his team-mates to raise their game.
27 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Talisca’s pattern continues as he sends a header wide. He didn’t have much space to work with, in fairness.
25 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
Al Nassr force a corner on the left but can’t produce a shot on target following the delivery.
23 mins: Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda
There was pinball inside the Al Nassr penalty area after they failed to conclusively clear that corner and the return ball inside their box.
With goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi off his line after advancing uncertainly, Jean-David Beauguel used the space he was afforded to fire a powerful bicycle kick into the back of the net!
23 mins: GOAL – Al Nassr 0-1 Al Wehda (Jean-David Beauguel)
Superb strike!
20 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Al Wehda win a corner on the right. Promising.
20 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Not sure what the exact wording is, but a version of the White Stripes’ ubiquitous ‘Seven Nation Army’ is being loudly sung.
Ali Alhassan is down on the turf receiving treatment. He returns to his feet grimacing.
18 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Considering they’re 31 points behind Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League table, this has been a promising opening by Al Wehda as we approach the 20-minute mark.
They’re looking calm on the ball and determined in defence.
16 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo releases Talisca on a run towards the penalty area on the left, but the recipient of the incisive pass can’t capitalise and is dispossessed.
14 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Ali Lajami goes down after a challenge on Al Nassr’s right and needs a prolonged spell of treatment, allowing the other players to rehydrate in sweltering conditions.
Lamaji is back on his feet.
12 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Monir El Kajoui is winded after that Cristiano Ronaldo strike hit him full on the chest at the closest of quarters.
He bravely returns to his feet, with Ronaldo showing his respect. Great goalkeeping!
11 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Massive chance for Cristiano Ronaldo! The striker meets a cross from the left at point-blank range but goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui somehow keeps it out, perhaps not knowing too much about it!
The rebound bounces off Ronaldo and away.
10 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Al Wehda have possession inside the opposition half on the left. Alaa Al Hejji gets clumped on the foot and Al Nassr win a freekick.
9 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Cristiano Ronaldo picks up a short pass, spins and sends in a low shot from distance that is comfortably wide of a post.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then gestures at his opponents to speed their play up.
7 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Talisca has another chance in the air! This time the 16-goal attacker sends a cross from the right wide of the target with a powerful header.
4 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Ronaldo gets on the ball for the first time on the left, performing a nutmeg to drive a move that culminates in Talisca heading a cross from the same flank wide inside the penalty aera.
3 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
Sultan Al-Ghanam makes an excellent acrobatic clearance inside the penalty area, deploying an overhead kick to emphatically snuff out the danger.
2 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
The constant noise from the stands is striking and enjoyable. Al Nassr make a first foray forward but Al Wehda deal with the danger on their left.
1 min: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Wehda
This has been a good start by Al Wehda, who keep possession deep inside Al Nassr territory on the left. The attack eventually fizzles out.
1 min from kickoff: The teams are on the pitch and exchanging pleasantries with each other and the match officials in front of a boisterous crowd!
There’s just time for the team photos.
20 mins from kickoff: The players arrive a little earlier.
Our home stadium @VictoryArena_sa 💛🏟 pic.twitter.com/gpuFzhx93q
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 24, 2023
40 mins from kickoff: Team news! Here’s how Al Nassr start.
🗒 || Starting lineup,@AlNassrFC vs #AlWehda pic.twitter.com/GDZ8VcNPzV
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 24, 2023
60 mins from kickoff: As we await team news, don’t forget to follow our dedicated football channels on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest football updates, stats and analysis.
They’re your essential companions to the beautiful game.
🍿 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟯
🔵 Manchester City vs. Manchester United 🔴
🤯 A Manchester derby in the #FACup final! pic.twitter.com/l0XSFxUQeI
— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) April 23, 2023
80 mins from kickoff: Thirty-three years of hurt: that’s how long it’s been since Al Nassr claimed their sixth and most recent King Cup title.
Mecca-based Al Wehda won it in 1957 and 1966. They were also runners-up five times between 1958 and 1970.
Semi-Final Is Here! 🏆
Knights, Let’s make it happen 💪 pic.twitter.com/XQF43hJKW8— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 23, 2023
100 mins from kickoff: Al Nassr have not produced a goal in their past two matches, with former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo showing them how it’s done by scoring both of Al-Hilal’s in their 2-0 win over them six days ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo has gone 204 minutes without a goal.
120 mins from kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ coverage of Al Nassr’s semifinal with Al Wehda in the King Cup!
After slipping to 2-0 defeat at Al Hilal in their last league match, Al Nassr have fallen three points behind Al Ittihad at the top of the Saudi Pro League.
That might make a return to cup action something of a relief for the side skippered by Cristiano Ronaldo, who is seeking his first trophy since joining the club and aiming to win the King Cup for the first time. Stay with us for build-up and all the action from the game.
Al Nassr vs. Al Wehda predicted lineups
Interim Al Nassr boss Dinko Jelicic has confirmed no fresh injury worries ahead of this tie with Pity Martinez ruled out until next season. However, he is expected to reshuffle from the defeat at Al Hilal with Jaloliddin Masharipov in line to start.
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 44. Nawaf Alaqidi (GK) — 2. Sultan Al-Ghanam, 5. Abdulelah Alamri, 21. Alvaro Gonzalez, 13. Ghislain Konan — 18. Luiz Gustavo, 8. Abdulmajeed Alsulaihem — 77. Masharipov, 94. Talisca, 29. Abdulrahman Ghareeb — 7. Cristiano Ronaldo
Al Nassr subs (8): 22. Agustin Rossi (GK), 4. Mohammed Al-Fatil, 3. Abdullah Madu, 19. Ali Alhassan, 12. Nawaf Boushal, 17. Abdullah Alkhaibari, 78. Ali Lajami, 16. Mohammed Maran
Al Wehda head coach Jose Luis Sierra is also boosted by a fully fit squad to pick from, including key defender Óscar Duarte.Ali Alhassan
Al Wehda starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Monir El Kajoui (GK) — 2. Ali Makki, 17. Abdullah Al-Hafith, 6. Oscar Duarte, 23. Amiri Kurdi — 4. Waleed Bakshween, 76. Faycal Fajr — 74. Karim Yoda, 87. Anselmo, 90. Hazzaa Al-Ghamdi —80. Yahya Mahdi Naji
Al Wehda subs (9): 13. Abdulquddus Atiah (GK), 3. Abdullah Bukhari, 9. Jean-David Beauguel, 24. Abdulaziz Noor, 7. Hussain Ahmed Al Eisa, 29. Sultan Sami Al Akouz, 35. Yousef Al-Harbi, 49. Sultan Al-Sawadi, 77. Ahmed Fallatah
What time is Al Nassr vs. Al Wehda?
This King Cup semifinal clash between Al Nassr and Al Wehda kicks off at 9 p.m. local time at the Mrsool Park, in Riyadh, on Monday, April 24.
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australia | Tue, Apr. 25 | 04:00 AEST |
| Canada | Mon, Apr. 24 | 14:00 EDT |
| Hong Kong | Tue, Apr. 25 | 02:00 HKT |
| India | Mon, Apr. 24 | 23:30 IST |
| Malaysia | Tue, Apr. 25 | 02:00 MYT |
| New Zealand | Tue, Apr. 25 | 06:00 NZST |
| Singapore | Tue, Apr. 25 | 02:00 SGT |
| UK | Mon, Apr. 24 | 19:00 GMT |
| USA | Mon, Apr. 24 | 14:00 EDT |
MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo’s salary in Saudi Arabia
How to watch Al Nassr vs. Al Wehda
Local broadcasters in select countries have acquired the rights to televise or stream the Saudi Pro League, while fans in other territories can subscribe to streaming platform Shahid for complete coverage.
According to LiveSoccerTV, the following networks are carrying this match:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | 10 Play |
| Canada | — | Shahid |
| Hong Kong | — | Shahid |
| India | Sony TEN 2 | Shahid, JioTV, SONY LIV |
| Malaysia | Astro Supersport 5 | Shahid, Astro GO, sooka |
| New Zealand | — | Shahid |
| Singapore | — | Shahid |
| UK | — | Shahid, Sky Sports on YouTube |
| USA | — | Shahid |