Senegal international Sadio Mane was on target for Al-Nassr in the Saudi King’s Cup as they saw off Al-Khaleej 3-1 in the semi-final at the Al-Awwal Stadium on Wednesday.
The former Liverpool forward scored from the penalty spot in the 37th minute to register his fourth goal in the tournament that helped Al-Nassr secure a place in the final of the competition.
The 32-year-old, who also has an assist in the tournament, ties Al-Shabab’s Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco for the most goals scored in the King’s Cup this season.
Full time!!!! pic.twitter.com/82Rcb8WoMt
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 1, 2024
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Al-Nassr in the 17th minute with a Zinedine Zidane-esque finish from the edge of the box. After a misfire from the opposing goalkeeper, the 39-year-old, who wasn’t facing the goal, hit a left-footed volley into an empty net for his 37th goal of the season.
After a foul was committed in Al-Khaleej’s box, Ronaldo approached Mane to take the resulting penalty and he stepped up to place the ball into the far corner.
Luis Castro’s side got their third goal through Ronaldo after tapping the ball home from close range.
Al-Khaleej pulled a goal back late in the game through Fawaz Al-Torais in the 82nd minute but it was too late to ignite a comeback.
Al-Nassr, six-time winners of the King’s Cup, will be gunning for their seventh title when they face 11-time winners Al-Hilal in the final slated for May 31 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
