Fans have been transported again in time to the heyday of storied rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as each forwards obtained on the scoresheet in an exhibition match on Thursday earlier than Hugo Ekitike earned 10-man PSG a 5-4 win over the Riyadh Season Team.
While the match could not have a lot significance for the groups concerned, soccer followers world wide obtained loads of bang for his or her buck as a narrative that has dominated the game for over a decade appeared to come back to an finish in a memorable goalfest.
In an action-packed first half on the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, targets from Messi and Marquinhos have been canceled out by a Ronaldo brace, whereas PSG’s Juan Bernat was despatched off for a lunging deal with on Saudi worldwide Salem Al-Dawsari.
Both groups saved their foot on the fuel within the second half, however Ekitike’s 78th-minute strike ultimately made the distinction on the night time.
Decked in a brand new black and gold equipment, PSG made a blistering begin to the sport, racing into the lead within the third minute because of a deft end from Messi.
Played by means of on purpose by Neymar, Messi was capable of poke the ball previous goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais, who he final confronted in Saudi Arabia’s shock World Cup win over Argentina in November 2022.
Despite going behind early, the Riyadh Season Team – a mixed Saudi Pro League XI that includes gamers from Al Nassr and Al Hilal – had quite a few possibilities.
Ronaldo was an ever-present menace and gained a penalty when goalkeeper Keylor Navas clattered into him. Sporting a brilliant purple bruise on his cheek on account of the collision, Ronaldo picked himself as much as calmly convert the spot kick and stage the sport.
Bernat was proven a purple card proper after the equalizer, however the Ligue 1 membership responded nicely to going a person down, scoring by means of defender Marquinhos.
Their lead wouldn’t final lengthy, as Ronaldo as soon as once more leveled the sport on the verge of half-time, hammering house a rebound after Sergio Ramos botched a straight ahead clearance.
The targets continued to come back thick and quick after the break, as Ramos turned in a Kylian Mbappe cross earlier than South Korean Jang Hyun-soo replied with a near-post header from a nook to make it 3-3.
A handball by Ali Al-Bulaihi gave the guests a penalty, which was expertly dispatched by Mbappe on the hour. It was Mbappe’s final contribution, as he was taken off shortly after, together with team-mates Messi and Neymar, in addition to Ronaldo.
Ekitike then prolonged PSG’s result in 5-3 with a thumping end following a lung-busting run from the midway line earlier than Anderson Talisca scored a late comfort purpose for the Saudis in added time.
Though he was unable to get his latest chapter in Saudi Arabia off to a profitable begin, 37-year-old Ronaldo will take coronary heart from his efficiency as he prepares to make his first aggressive look for Al Nassr once they host Al Ettifaq on Sunday.
