00:00The Deiriyah Saudi Super Cup gets underway today with the two semi-finals, Al-Halal and Al-Nasemite later, but Abu Dhabi's Al-Nayhan Stadium, first place host to Al-Ityad and Al-Waida.
00:22Last season's Roshan Saudi League champions against the Kings Cup runners-up. Both teams drew in the league on Friday and we'll hope the two respective number nines, Karim Benzema and Odio Nogalo, rediscover their form in front of goal.
00:38And the first semi-final is underway. Al-Ityad, in their famous tiger stripes, defending the goal away to our left.
01:08They quickly into the penalty area by Benzema for Romerinho, back towards Benzema again who turns and scores!
01:21And within a minute, Karim Benzema has his first goal of 2024.
01:26The Al-Waida defence parted obligingly and Benzema has been looking for that sort of opportunity for some time and there'll be plenty of relief.
01:38It's completely the worst-case scenario here. It's poor defending. Karim Benzema, yes, we're saying he's out of form, but in terms of that finish, knows exactly where the goal is.
01:51Back to goal. Just swivels in turn, hits it really, really well.
01:56Fijer, who does have so much experience right across Europe, and now Anselmo again.
02:15The Dutchman, Van Croy, but the cross was scuffed, but it falls kindly for Regalo.
02:20And the shot fired in from Bak Shween from the edge of the penalty area. Caught it well, but it was too close to Al-Mayouf.
02:36And now Romerinho fired in. Oh, it's a second!
02:40And it's Hamdala, and Munea unable to keep it out.
02:44And after the early goal from Benzema, Hamdala may have sent Al-Leti head into the final already.
02:52His quality, we'll see it here. A little run into the inside channel. It's a real smart ball across, and Hamdala is there on the scene just to tap in.
03:04That's what we were saying earlier about making sure that your forwards are in the right areas.
03:07This time it's Benzema that's dropped in. Hamdala's the forward one. Can the keeper do slightly better?
03:14I think there's a nutmeg in there. Potentially, yes, but it's at that close of a range.
03:17The goalkeeper's always going to struggle, and it's Hamdala in a good area at the right time.
03:22Here is Hamdala, the on-one challenge. Now Al-Sukor, he goes for goal. Munea makes the save, but Jota is there to guide the ball in, but the flag is up for offside.
03:38Al-Mualad with the cross in, interesting defending from Kadesh, and then Nour goes down, nodded by Fajir, fired in by Anselmoen, it's a good save by Munea.
04:00But Al-Waida close once again.
04:03Here was an opportunity for Romarino. Back to Benzema, cleared off the line.
04:21Well, that would have sealed it.
04:26Here is Hamdala.
04:29Benzema waits in the centre, and he was unmarked there.
04:32Romarino, he lets fly. Good save, though, by Munea.
04:38Now, will we go back to the incident at the other end, at the other penalty area?
04:52Well, it was Kadesh, you wouldn't have seen
04:54the flick, although, did it brush the armour for Ghazi on the way through?
05:02Mamdou Al-Shaddan is heading across to the screen to have a look himself here,
05:07in the 90th minute.
05:09That's a tough one. I think it always looks worse in slow-mo, equally.
05:26Does it look like it brushes the armour for Ghazi?
05:30It does, but I wouldn't call that an unnatural position, and I don't think Odi Nogalo has enough
05:39power on that ball there that it's going to beat the goalkeeper from there, so it's not necessarily
05:44denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, but let's see what the ref thinks.
05:47Mamdou Al-Shaddan has had his say.
05:52Penalty!
05:54Faisal Albalawi has given Al-Waida, belatedly,
05:59a potential route back into this game.
06:01And Fajia, oh, he's put it over the top.
06:13And as that ball sails over, Al-Waida's hopes surely go with it.
06:20You can never miss the target, you have to make the keeper make a save.
06:24If he doesn't, it flies over.
06:27And it's a shame for Al-Waida, because I think they deserved a goal in this game.
06:30I think they've just about done enough, but that's football.
06:34You don't always get what you deserve.
06:36The final day of the Roche and Saudi league season.
06:40Here's an opportunity, though, and the shot does find the back of the net,
06:44right at the end from Hussain Al-Issa.
06:47And Al-Waida, with 30 seconds of added time to play,
06:51have finally put something on the scoreboard.
06:54In terms of the run, a little chip finish, it's really cute.
07:05I think it's just that little bit too late.
07:07It's his first appearance since December for Hussain Al-Issa.
07:13He's had a hernia problem, and that's his first goal since August.
07:18Al-Sakor unable to keep it out.
07:22And we're into the 99th minute here.
07:25Hussain Al-Waida, and it's all over.
07:34Al-Waida are into the final.
07:38Now the Daria Saudi Super Cup.
07:42The late goal from Hussain Al-Issa, not enough to deny Karim Benzema.
07:48And Al-Issa had their place in Thursday's big game.
07:55Two goals in the first half from the main strikers for the Tigers.
08:01Benzema and Hamdala.
08:04We saw Fajir sky a penalty in the second half for Al-Waida.
08:08Vito van Krooy also hit the crossbar.
08:11And in the end, their goal came just a bit too late.
08:14It is finished.
08:15Al-Issa had two.
08:16Al-Waida won.
08:18Al-Waida won.
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