ABU DHABI — Al Hilal booked their place in the Diriyah Saudi Super Cup final, securing a victory over arch-rival Al Nassr with a 2-1 scoreline at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This semi-final clash set the stage for a much-anticipated final against Al Ittihad. Maintaining their impressive winning streak, Al Hilal marked its 33rd consecutive victory on a global scale, showcasing resilience and tactical prowess. The lineup for Al Hilal included Abdullah Al Hamdan in the attack, taking the place of Saleh Al Shehri, and featured Yasser Al Shahrani as a substitute for Lodi. Al Nassr's strategy, devised by coach Luis Castro, featured a defensive setup with five defenders to bolster counterattack efforts. The match's first half ended evenly, with neither team gaining a significant advantage. However, Al Nassr's Otavio saw a goal disallowed in the closing moments of the half due to Cristiano Ronaldo's offside position, keeping the suspense high. Al Hilal shifted gears in the second half, swiftly breaking the deadlock in the 61st minute through a brilliant collaboration between Sergej Milinković-Savić and Salem Al Dawsari, who outmaneuvered Al Nassr's defense to score. Al Hilal's offensive momentum continued, with Malcom doubling their lead in the 72nd minute, thanks to Michael's assist. The match's turning point came when Cristiano Ronaldo was shown a direct red card in the 85th minute following a clash with Al Hilal's Ali Al Bulaihi, leaving Al Nassr with ten men. Despite being a man down, Al Nassr managed to score a late goal through Sadio Mane during stoppage time, adding drama to the final moments. Nonetheless, Al Hilal controlled the game to the end, ensuring their progression to the final and setting the stage for a showdown with Al Ittihad.
