The pivotal moment of the match unfolded in the 73rd minute when Sadio Mane skillfully penetrated the Al Shorta defense within the penalty area, drawing a decisive foul from defender Faisal Jasim. The ball fortuitously landed near Ronaldo, who cunningly positioned himself in proximity to the referee, applying pressure for a penalty call. Just moments later, as Al Shorta gained possession, the game was momentarily paused for a VAR review at the touchline.
This intervention affirmed the penalty for Al Nassr, offering Ronaldo a golden opportunity, which he seized masterfully by directing the ball into the right corner of the net, thus igniting the scoreboard.
Celebrating his triumph, Ronaldo sprinted towards the corner flag, choreographing his signature jump-spin celebration, and engaging in an exuberant chest bump with Mane. A chorus of euphoric “siuuu” chants filled the stadium as Ronaldo soared high, casting a spellbinding spectacle.
The ambiance was further illuminated as the audience illuminated the arena with their phones, conjuring a mesmerizing bokeh effect.
While Ronaldo’s impact was undeniable, the spotlight shone brightly on Mane’s performance throughout the match. Mane’s mesmerizing dribbles and tactical finesse persistently unsettled the multi-layered defense of Al Shorta. In the 86th minute, Mane experienced another dramatic tumble within the penalty area, leading to VAR intervention. However, the referee opted against awarding a penalty this time.
A mere two minutes later, Mane orchestrated a precise cross, aimed at Ronaldo’s head from a mere 5 meters, yet Al Shorta’s goalkeeper, Ahmed Basil Fadhil, demonstrated astonishing reflexes to thwart the equalizer attempt. Al Shorta retaliated swiftly, launching a counterattack that enabled midfielder Ahmed Farhan to face the goal, yet his well-calculated chip was brilliantly parried away by goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi.
Al Shorta, reigning champions of Iraq, boasted an Opta Power rating of 74.6, slightly trailing behind Al Nassr’s 77.7. The Al Shorta lineup featured several Iraqi national team players, who are destined to cross paths with Vietnam in the group stage of the 2024 Asian Cup and the second round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Despite their valiant efforts, Al Shorta struggled to restrain luminaries like Ronaldo, Mane, and Marcelo Brozovic.
In the 31st minute, Ronaldo had initially celebrated a goal, courtesy of Mane’s agile breakthrough, only for VAR to rule it out due to a marginal offside decision. Ronaldo then came close to assuming a role as a provider, setting up Alex Telles for a shot, which reverberated off the crossbar, denying Al Nassr a potential doubling of their lead.
As the resounding final whistle echoed across the stadium, Al Nassr’s players converged in a jubilant embrace, collectively savoring the magnitude of their achievement. Notably, they shared an emphatic moment of victory with goalkeeper Alaqidi, acknowledging his pivotal save during the game’s decisive juncture. Amidst the cheers, a fervent supporter illuminated the arena with a flare, commemorating Al Nassr’s historic qualification for the final. Their final adversary will emerge from the ranks of Al Hilal or Al Shabab, with the title-deciding clash set for August 12th.
