Latest news with #SaudiKing'sCup
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Karim Benzema leads Al-Ittihad to thrilling Saudi Cup win and domestic double
Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final on Friday as they completed the domestic double. Laurent Blanc's side dominated the game to win the cup for the 10th time, while Al-Qadsiah finished the game with 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez was sent off in the 81st minute. Moussa Diaby nearly put Al-Ittihad ahead but missed a chance in the 21st minute. Al-Qadsiah's former Spain defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn't award a spot kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute. Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema poses for a picture with fans after winning the Saudi King's Cup. Reuters Benzema opened the scoring for the Saudi Pro League champions, using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's precise cross 11 minutes before the interval. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute by following up after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema. Al-Qadsiah's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Benzema, who won the SPL Player of the Season, hit the bar after the break, but Al-Ittihad were more cautious as they looked to maintain their lead. Ittihad's supporters cheer for their team after winning the King's Cup final match against Qadsiah FC in Jeddah on May 30, 2025. Agence France-Presse Al-Ittihad keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved Aubameyang's shot in the 80th minute and Al-Qadsiah suffered a big blow when Ezequiel Fernandez received a second yellow card, forcing them to play with 10 men for the final minutes. Then 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema scored his side's third goal, firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time, before Aubameyang's shot hit the woodwork. Reuters
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Benzema leads Al-Ittihad to Saudi Cup win and domestic double
Soccer Football - Saudi King's Cup - Final - Al Ittihad v Al Qadsiah - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - May 30, 2025 Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with Steven Bergwijn REUTERS/Stringer Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Ittihad v Damac - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - May 26, 2025 Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates with the trophy after winning the Saudi Pro League REUTERS/Stringer Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Ittihad v Damac - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - May 26, 2025 Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema receives the Saudi Pro League trophy from Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Minister of Sport in Saudi Arabia REUTERS/Stringer Soccer Football - Saudi King's Cup - Final - Al Ittihad v Al Qadsiah - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - May 30, 2025 Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates REUTERS/Stringer Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Ittihad v Damac - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - May 26, 2025 Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema lifts the trophy after winning the Saudi Pro League REUTERS/Stringer Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final on Friday as they completed the domestic double. Laurent Blanc's side dominated the game to win the cup for the 10th time, while Al-Qadsiah finished the game with 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez was sent off in the 81st minute. Moussa Diaby nearly put Al-Ittihad ahead but missed a chance in the 21st minute. Al-Qadsiah's former Spain defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn't award a spot kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute. Benzema opened the scoring for the Saudi Pro League champions, using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's precise cross 11 minutes before the interval. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute by following up after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema. Al-Qadsiah's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Benzema, who won the SPL Player of the Season, hit the bar after the break, but Al-Ittihad were more cautious as they looked to maintain their lead. Al-Ittihad keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved Aubameyang's shot in the 80th minute and Al-Qadsiah suffered a big blow when Ezequiel Fernandez received a second yellow card, forcing them to play with 10 men for the final minutes. Then 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema scored his side's third goal, firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time, before Aubameyang's shot hit the woodwork. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Leaders
3 days ago
- Sport
- Leaders
Live Action: Al-Ittihad v Al-Qadsiah (King's Cup, final)
Leaders-Mena magazine will provide a live coverage for Friday's game between Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah in the final of the Saudi King's Cup. Al-Ittihad v Al-Qadsiah Stay tuned as match is due to start at 21:00 KSA time (GMT+3) Venue: Alinma Stadium (Jeddah) Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy) Short link : Post Views: 1 Related Stories
Leaders
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Leaders
Jeddah Prepares for King's Cup Grand Finale Showdown on 30 May
The highly anticipated Saudi King's Cup 2025 final approaches, igniting passion across the Kingdom. Al-Ittihad will fiercely clash with Al-Qadsiah for the prestigious Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Cup. The Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) announced that the game will be held on Friday, 30 May, 2025, at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City. This historic encounter marks Al-Qadsiah's first-ever final appearance, while Al-Ittihad aim to add a tenth title to their storied legacy. Road to the Final Al-Ittihad, current Saudi Pro League leaders, battled fiercely through knockout rounds, including a penalty shootout victory over Al-Hilal in the quarterfinals. Their dramatical semifinal clash against Al-Shabab saw Danilo Pereira's heroic brace in extra time, overturning a deficit to secure a 3-2 win. Meanwhile, Al-Qadsiah defied expectations with a dominant run, netting nine goals in three matches, with forward Julián Quiñones leads this edition's scoring charts with five goals. Their semi-final victory over Al-Raed highlighted their defensive prowess, boasting the league's best defensive record this season conceding 27 goals. Echoes from a Storied Past The King's Cup boasts a long and illustrious history, dating back to its inception. Al-Ahli proudly hold the record for the most titles, having lifted the trophy 13 times, while the reigning champions, Al-Hilal, are following closely with 11 victories, consistently proving their championship caliber. Al-Nassr also feature prominently with 5 cup wins, adding to the competition's rich tapestry. Furthermore, the winner of the tournament will qualify for the group stage of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two, adding an extra layer of competition and prestige to the event. Winning the King's Cup brings immense prestige and a coveted place in Saudi football history. Beyond the glory, substantial financial rewards also await the participating teams in the final. The champions of the 2025 King's Cup will receive a handsome prize of SAR5.5m, while the runners-up will also be well compensated, taking home SAR4m for their efforts. These prizes underscore the significance of the competition and reward the teams' hard work. Will Al-Ittihad's experience prevail, or will Al-Qadsiah's Cinderella story culminate in triumph? With Benzema's leadership and Al-Qadsiah's resilient backline, this clash promises drama worthy of Saudi football's grandest stage. Short link : Post Views: 97
