Al Nassr 1-0 Al Ettifaq: summary, score, goals, highlights Saudi King’s Cup
Al Nassr - Al Ettifaq: as it happened
Al Nassr advance
Sadio Mane was the hero for the home side with a late extra time goal giving the men from Riyadh the win after a tense Round of 16 clash against Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq.
The whistle sounds and Al Nassr win.
The players on both sides are totally exhausted.
Last chance saloon for the Commandos now.
Mane breaks but overhits the ball.
2 minutes of added time awarded.
We're now in added time.
The angle is too acute for a shot.
A loft into the box will be the order of the day for the former Liverpool man.
Hendo shoots bit straight at the keeper. Not the best effort.
Ettifaq awarded a dangerous freekick.
Henderson territory.
Two minutes left in Riyadh.
Al Nassr on the cusp of a quarterfinal place in the Saudi King's Cup.
Mane goes down in the box and the fans appeal for a spot kick.
Otavio now carded as players start to lose their heads a little.
Dejection on the faces of the Ettifaq players as they sense the game and their King's Cup campaign is slowly slipping away.
Ettifaq pressing now as the clock ticks down.
Al Nassr just over five minutes away from progressing in the King's Cup.
The goal has been no more than Al Nassr have deserved as they have been the only team hungry for a positive result.
Ronaldo now goes close with a wonderful right foot drive which Victor does well to save.
So, Ettifaq have to amend their game plan and offer a more offensive approach.
Goooooooool.
Mane breaks the deadlock.
We go again.
Nassr start the game.
The players line up for the last time and Tello makes way for Ayman Yahya for Al Nassr.
So, 15 minutes left and if no-one manages to find the net, then we go to spot kicks to see who advances to the last eight of the Saudi King's Cup.
That winds up the end of the first spell of extra time.
15' left for either side to find a goal.
One minute of time added on.
Al Nassr have flicked the switch and are playing pro mode now as the peg Ettifaq back.
Final minute of the half.
Mane thuds a shot but Tisserand stands firm and the ball is out for a corner.
The ball falls to Ronaldo but he fails to get a clean shot and it drifts wide.
Al Nassr pressing now and getting closer to opening the scoring.
Both teams still going for it with a place in the quarterfinals of the Saudi King's Cup on the line.
Cristiano's defensive duties have been impressive tonight, on countless times the veteran striker is at the heart of the defence to repel Ettifaq's corner kicks.
Free for Ettifaq and swung in from Henderson.
All of a sudden, Ettifaq have taken control of the game.
Wijnaldum delivers a dangerous ball and Nassr clear for a corner.
Now Henderson almost slots home as the ball swerves inches wide.
Good start from the Commandos.
Tired legs starting to appear now from both teams and I'm still at a loss to try and figure out Steven Gerrard's approach to the second half when the Commandos failed to take the game to the ten men of Nassr.
Extra time is underway.
Ettifaq start the action.
Abdulrahman Ghareeb on for Nassr
Fofana making way
FT in Riyadh
All square between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq
Al Nassr go close again as Mane drives the balla across the face of the Ettifaq goal but Ronaldo was unable to latch onto the delivery.
The whistle sounds and we go again for a further half an hour.
More than ten minutes added on by the referee with a further 30 on the cards.
So close for Al Nassr as Mane almost finds Ronaldo but Ettifaq avert the danger.
So, as we saw in the first half, more late drama at Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh.
Poor tactical display from Steven Gerrard with his side showing limited desire to take the game to the ten men of Al Nassr.
We'll have at least 7 minutes of added time.
Just to confirm that Henderson escaped with no card and both sides are now down to ten men and it has to be said that the red card looked a little soft and it does appear that the referee is trying to appease the home crowd.
Ali Hazazi is the man carded for kicking out at an Al Nassr player
A red for Henderson it appears as he barges a rival player.
The referee in the spotlight once again.
Ettifaq down to ten men
Corner for Ettifaq in a rare attack for the Commandos
Henderson delivers, Cristiano clears.
Al Mosa on for Ettifaq
Yousef making way
Spot of mini UFC action between Ronaldo and Hendry which ends in nothing .... mild grappling ....
It does fire the fans up again.
Just over five minutes remain and it's looking like extra time.
Free for Al Nassr as Cristiano does his bit to fire up the crowd.
It has to be said that Ettifaq have done nothing with the extra man.
Abdulelah Al-Amri heads into the side netting from a CR7 assist and that has been the best chance of the half.
Mohammed Abdulrahman carded as he fouls Mane
One senses that Al Nassr are playing for extra time and even penalty kicks.
Ettifaq have not really taken advantage of the extra man.
Ahmed Al-Ghamdi on for Ettifaq
he replaces Hamed Al Ghamdi
(yes, there are two Al Ghamdi's playing for Ettifaq)
Brazilian keeper Paulo Victor is complaining of a muscle problem and gets medical attention.
Telles takes the free and almost finds the top corner with a rasping left footed effort.
Hamdan Al-Shamrani carded as he cuts Otavio down.
Twenty minutes remain in Riyadh with extra time beckoning should the sides remain level after 90 minutes.
Corner for Nassr.
Telles to take but Victor in the Ettifaq goal does well to palm away.
Ettifaq's Hamed Al-Ghamdi carded for a late challenge on Laporte.
Little service going to Cristiano and despite all their neat 'keep-ball' play, Al Nassr are creating nothing.
Now it's Ettifaq's turn to control possession.
The visitors have still yet to test Nawaf Al-Aqidi in the Al Nassr goal in this half.
Once again, Otavio looks like being the player who has the guile to carve open the well organised Ettifaq defence.
If anything, being down to ten men seems to have fired up Al Nassr as they are playing with an added intensity that was absent in the first half.
The fans doing their bit too with higher noise levels being generated now as compared to the first 45'.
Despite having the extra man, Ettifaq have yet to exert any serious dominance as Al Nassr retain the ball expertly.
The home fans find their voice as a series of flares are lit and smoke wafts across the pitch as Ettifaq probe and look for the opener
The Talisca red card
A harsh decision?
The Al Nassr social media community are incensed with the decision.
Sadio Mane is an obvious change for Al Nassr if Luis Castro is looking to sacrifice a striker.
Interesting to see how Castro approaches the half with just ten men.
Sit back and defend or look to create chances and be confident that Cristiano can nick a goal
Laporte is clattered and seems to be in some distress.
The Spanish international pulled up as if to have developed a muscular problem.
All set for the second half.
Nassr restart the action.
Al Nassr now having to face Ettifaq in the second half with just ten men.
So a recap... within the space of 3 minutes, Talisca had the ball in the net..ruled out by VAR.
Was then yellow carded... ruled out by VAR and changed for a direct red.
A wild cup clash with Ettifaq actually generating the better chances.
The Al Nassr boss Castro now talking (remonstrating) with the match official.
The Al Nassr players are livid with the referee and Cristiano will need to be careful with the Portugese already on a yellow card.
We've now played 12 minutes of added time and eventually the whistle for the break sounds.
The Brazilian striker is given his marching orders.
My word, what drama here in added time.
Al Nassr now down to ten men.
VAR now being consulted again to see if Talisca should be awarded a red card.
We're still playing at Al-Awwal Park Stadium and Talisca is now carded for a foul on an Ettifaq player.
The home crowd are far from happy with what they are seeing.
Offside given ... no goal and Al Nassr are furious.
Talisca was very much onside but Cristiano does look to be offside but was he interfering in the passage of play?
Referee still yet to restart the game ...has the VAR been in touch...
yes. VAR screen to be consulted.
Goooooooooooool.
Al Nassr strike and it's the Brazilian Talisca who bags the opener.
Otavio strikes from an acute angle and Victor does well in the Ettifaq goal to parry the effort clear.
We're deep inside added time as Nassr still look to cause problems.
Cristiano may have lost a little speed and pace but has certainly most none of his desire to get on the scoresheet as he fights for every 50/50 ball with intensity.
Nassr win a dangerous free with Brozovic poised to take.
He finds CR7 who strikes but the flag is up as the keeper intervenes.
Al Nassr have regained control of the contest now as we drift towards the interval.
Telles and Fofana looking brighter for the home side but Sadio Mane is really not at the races tonight.
Otavio is the creative force for Al Nassr tonight with the former FC Porto man pulling the strings for the home side.
Ettifaq are so dangerous on the counter as Al-Kuwaykibi breaks for the Commandos and is let down by poor decision making after creating a fine position for himself in the opposing box.
A slight lull in the tempo after a wild first 30 minutes with the better chances falling the way of Steven Gerrard's men.
Otavio still not fully mobile after that collision in the Ettifaq area.
A really bright and open game here in Riyadh.
Al Nassr fans are incensed as they feel they should have had a penalty and immediately Gray goes down the other end and almost opens the scoring as Alamri saves off the line.
Boushal was the Al Nassr player complaining of a tweak.
Boushal off for Al Nassr
Abdullah Al-Khaibari on
The fans show no signs of letting up with the atmosphere still electric.
Stadium about 75% full I'd say at a guess.
We're back under way as the medical teams leave the field of play.
A brief pause in the contest as a player from both sides needs attention with muscular issues seeming to be the problem.
Excellent work from Cristiano as he drives on target but his effort is deflected away. Better from the Portuguese star.
Shots on target to date:
Al Nassr 0-2 Ettifaq
Sadio Mane has had a quiet start for Al Nassr and signs of frustration showing from Cristiano as he is having a tough time against the Ettifaq defence.
What a run from Hamdan Al-Shamrani for Ettifaq as he barges his way into the box beating two Al Nassr men on his way but in the final moment, a defender manages to avert the danger.
Al Nassr break and Otavio just fails to find a teammate as he breaks into the box.
What a tempo this game is being played in.
And indeed, the striker from Madeira has talked his way into the referee's book and is the first player of the cup clash to get a card.
CR7 furious at the ref as he feels he was fouled.
Waved away from the man in the middle as the fans chant the Portuguese striker's name.
Ettifaq have finally woken up and are now the side dictating the pace of the game with Demarai Gray looking very dangerous.
Nawaf Al-Aqidi once again has to save well as Ettifaq press.
Ettifaq attack and Gray does well as the ball is desperately cleared by Al Nassr with Aliqidi saving well for the home side.
Excellent ball from Otavio as he wins a corner for the side in navy blue.
Ettifaq really struggling to maintain any sustained possession in the opening stages.
The Commandos from Dammam struggling to get into a groove with Nassr enjoying the bulk of early possession.
First threat comes from Nassr as Talisca clips the ball into the box lookibg for Ronaldo but it skips wide.
Ettifaq get the ball rolling and we're underway in Riyadh.
All set in Riyadh.
Al Nassr in all blue... Ettifaq in their green and white
Al Nassr have won the competition on six occasions as opposed to the two of Al Ettifaq.
The Saudi king of cups is Al Ahli with 13 wins over the years.
Al Hilal are the current holders.
Last King's Cup meeting
The last time Al Nassr and the side from Dammam met in the Cup was in 2021 when a solitary goal was good enough for the Riyadh based outfit to advance
Ettifaq XI
Steven Gerrard set to employ a 4-3-3- with his team captained by former Liverpool star Jordan Henderson.
Al Nassr XI
A reminder of the starting XI for the home side as the likes of Laporte, Mane and Ronaldo all start.
Should things remain level after 90 minutes today, then we'll have a further 30 minutes of extra time. If no side has a lead after 120 minutes of action, then a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine which team advances into the next round.
Ettifaq warm up
The visitors are the first tem out warming up at Al-Awwal Park Stadium as some 90's europop blares out from the PA system.
30 minutes to kick off.
Al Nassr on a roll
Since their Saudi Pro League defeat at home to Al Taawoun on 18 August, Al Nassr are unbeaten in the SPL, Asian Champions League and King's Cup.
14 games !
Al Nassr boss focused
Al Nassr head coach Luis Castro arrives at the stadium looking extremely focused ahead of the Round of 16 cup clash.
Ettifaq XI announced
Steven Gerrard too selects a strong team with Wijnaldum, Tisserand Hendry and Henderson all starting for the visitors.
Etifaq primed for cup challenge
Steven Gerrard's team will go into the match aware that they can take on the side from Riyadh after their win in August in a match played with temperatures in excess of 38C-100F.
What time does Al Nassr vs Al Ettifaq start?
The game between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq will be played on Tuesday, 31 October, with kick off at 15:45 (CET) 10:45 am (ET) / 07:45 a.m. (PT).
Strong XI for Al Nassr
Brozovic, Talisca, Mane and Cristiano all start for Al Nassr as they make their intentions in the Saudi Cup quite clear.
Nassr's Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo / FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Al Nassr revived
After a shaky start to the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League campaign, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr have turned things around and currently occupy second place in the table trailing leaders Al Hilal by four points.
Thoughts momentarily for both clubs turn to the domestic cup as they prepare for today's King’s Cup Round of 16 clash as Al Nassr welcome Steven Gerrard and his Al Ettifaq side.
The team from Dammam lie in seventh place in the table and will need to be at their best to secure a place in the last eight.
Global start times
The Al Nassr Twitter-X account has prepared this handy global kick-off guide so you won't miss a minute of the action.
Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh is the venue as Steven Gerrard takes his side from Dammam to face a revived Al Nassr side.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage as two Saudi heavyweights go head-to-head in the Round 16 clash of the Saudi King's Cup.