Al Nassr dominates Inter Miami 6-0 in the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup

Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr firmly stamped their authority in front of a raucous home crowd at Mrsool Park, defeating Major League Soccer side Inter Miami CF 6-0. This highly anticipated exhibition match concluded the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup preseason tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo led Al Nassr with a second-half hat-trick, demonstrating that even at 39 years old, he still has plenty in the tank. Inter Miami had no answers, being dominated from start to finish by the Saudi Pro League leaders’ relentless pressure and clinical finishing. The one-sided scoreline accurately reflected Al Nassr’s overall dominance on the day.

Al Nassr charged out of the gate, immediately putting Inter Miami on the back foot. The Saudi club dominated possession early on and kept the ball glued to the ground with crisp one-touch passing. Inter Miami chased shadows and struggled to connect more than a few passes.

First Half Onslaught

In the tenth minute, Al Nassr took a deserved lead. After a penetrating run down the right flank, fullback Sultan Al-Ghannam whipped in an inch-perfect cross, which midfielder Pity Martinez expertly volleyed into the bottom corner. The well-worked goal rewarded Al Nassr for their strong start.

The opportunity appeared to spur Inter Miami into action. With Mexican playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro in command, the MLS side finally had possession in Al Nassr’s half. But Pizarro’s through ball to striker Gonzalo Higuain was too heavy, allowing Al Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina to collect.

That minor threat was quickly eliminated, as Al Nassr surged forward once more. Leading scorer Talisca demonstrated slick close control and dribbling to beat two defenders before being upended on the edge of the box. Martinez, a dead ball specialist, sized up the free kick and curled it up and over the wall into the top corner to double Al Nassr’s lead in the 23rd minute.

Shellshocked Inter Miami left gaping holes in the back as they desperately attempted to restore parity before halftime. Al Nassr ruthlessly exploited the open space, effortlessly cutting through the MLS side’s ragged defense. Martinez switched roles in the 33rd minute, making a defense-splitting pass to Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca. With the goal at his disposal, Talisca finished coolly to make it 3-0 and cap an utterly dominant first 45 minutes for the Saudi League leaders.

Ronaldo’s Hat Trick Seals an Emphatic Victory

Sensing blood in the water, Al Nassr charged out aggressively after the restart to land the knockout blow. Ronaldo quickly established himself. When he was put through on goal in the 51st minute, the Portuguese legend finished with his trademark left footed shot into the far post corner. Ronaldo wheeled away, arms raised, to celebrate his first Al Nassr goal in front of a jubilant home crowd.

With their team down four goals, the few Inter Miami fans scattered around Mrsool Park went silent. Al Nassr continued to press forward, hungry for more goals to boost the score. In the 63rd minute, right back Al-Ghannam scored a thunderbolt long-range strike to grant them their wish. His swerving effort flew into the top corner, capping an outstanding performance by the marauding fullback.

Ronaldo scored his second goal in the 77th minute, tapping in from close range after a terrible defensive error left him with the easiest of finishes. The Portuguese legend secured the match ball and finished his hat trick deep into injury time, rounding the keeper and slotting into an empty net after Martinez played him clean through on goal.

The final whistle confirmed a comprehensive 6-0 victory, with Al Nassr putting on a statement performance ahead of the resumption of their Saudi Pro League title challenge. Inter Miami’s humiliating defeat revealed that significant squad reinforcements are still required if they are to compete with the MLS’ elite teams in 2024.

Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo

While Pity Martinez and Sultan Al-Ghannam made strong claims, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Man of the Match award. His second-half hat trick broke Inter Miami’s stubborn resistance, demonstrating that Ronaldo still has that killer instinct in front of goal, despite approaching his 40th birthday later this year.

After a slow start in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo appears to have settled at Al Nassr. Ronaldo’s improved fitness and sharpness were evident against Inter Miami, as he led the press from the front while expertly timing his forward runs. The linkup play between Martinez and Talisca appeared to be seamless.

Ronaldo’s trademark left foot was firing on all cylinders; his first-time far post finish exuded class, while the second and third goals demonstrated clever movement and poise. Based on this evidence, Ronaldo is still capable of winning games and should remain the attacking focal point of this Al Nassr team.

Conclusion

Al Nassr’s complete dominance resulted in an unexpectedly lopsided 6-0 final scoreline, which did not reflect their dominant performance. The Saudi Arabian club outperformed their MLS opponents tactically as well as technically.

For Inter Miami manager Phil Neville, this sobering defeat highlights how much work remains on the training pitch and in the transfer market for his team to compete with the MLS elite, let alone a club of Al Nassr’s caliber. Neville will be hoping that this humiliating defeat serves as motivation for Inter Miami’s upcoming 2024 MLS season.

Al Nassr’s emphatic victory capped off an extremely successful Riyadh Season Cup tournament. Adding a genuine superstar, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, appears to be paying off, as evidenced by his dazzling hat trick today. Al Nassr appears to be a serious contender for the Saudi Pro League title in 2024.