Howdy, news enthusiasts! The Riyadh Season Cup 2024 kicked off with a bang on Monday, as Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal players pulled off a stunning 4-3 win over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at the Kingdom Arena. In front of a sell-out crowd of 75,000 spectators, both teams showcased their skill and fighting spirit during the emotionally charged match.
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Al Hilal players and Inter Miami put on a show for the fans
The game started with a high tempo, as both teams looked to impose their style and create chances. Playing their first competitive match since signing Messi from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, Inter Miami had their first real chance in the 12th minute when the Argentine star fired a hard shot from outside the box, only for Al Hilal goalkeeper Bono to tip it over the bar.
However, it was Al Hilal who drew first blood in the 19th minute, when Neymar, who joined the Saudi club from PSG in January, scored a stunning free-kick from 25 yards out that left Inter Miami keeper Nick Marsman rooted to the spot. The Brazilian celebrated his debut goal by kissing the Al Hilal badge and pointing to the sky.
Inter Miami responded well to the setback and equalized in the 28th minute when Messi played a one-two with Luis Suarez, who had also followed him from PSG and slotted the ball past Bono with his left foot. It was Messi’s first goal for his new club, and he celebrated by hugging Suarez and waving to the fans.
Both sides continued to create and blow opportunities as the game remained an end-to-end contest. In the 38th minute, Kalidou Koulibaly, who transferred from Napoli to Al Hilal during the winter transfer window, headed in a corner from Neymar to give the team the lead once more. The Senegalese defender showed his strength and aerial ability as he rose above the Inter Miami defense and powered the ball into the net.
Al Hilal led 2-1 at halftime, but Inter Miami started the second half with greater vigor and urgency. Suarez’s penalty kick, earned in the 51st minute after Al Hilal captain Salman Al Faraj fouled him in the box, leveled the score. After sending Bono the wrong way, the Uruguayan striker composedly placed the ball into the bottom corner.
The game was finely balanced, with both teams looking for the winner. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who joined Al Hilal from Fulham in January, gave the team their third lead in the 67th minute with a brilliant solo goal. The Serbian striker received the ball from Neymar on the right wing, cut inside, and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner, leaving Marsman with no chance.
Inter Miami did not give up and pushed for another equalizer. In the 78th minute, they thought they had it when Messi scored a spectacular overhead kick from a cross by Rodolfo Pizarro, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. The decision was controversial, as the replays showed that Messi was level with the last defender when the ball was played.
Inter Miami kept pressing and finally got their reward in the 86th minute when Pizarro scored a header from a cross by Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. The Mexican midfielder timed his run perfectly and nodded the ball past Bono, who was caught off his line. It was a well-deserved goal for Pizarro, who had been one of Inter Miami’s best players on the night.
There was still one more twist to the story, even though it appeared that the game would end in a draw. In the 90th minute, Al Hilal players scored the winner when Ruben Neves, who joined the club from Wolves in January, scored a long-range screamer from 30 yards out. The Portuguese midfielder unleashed a thunderbolt that flew past Marsman and into the top corner, sparking wild celebrations among the Al Hilal players and fans.
The final whistle blew, and Al Hilal had secured a famous 4-3 victory over Inter Miami, who were left stunned and heartbroken. Al Hilal players had shown their quality, resilience, and character and had announced themselves as serious contenders for the Riyadh Season Cup. Inter Miami, on the other hand, had suffered a major blow and had to regroup and bounce back in their next game against Al Nassr.
The implications of the result
The result means that Al Hilal is at the top of the Riyadh Cup table with three points from one game. Inter Miami is at the bottom, with zero points from one game. Al Nassr, who will face Inter Miami on February 1, has yet to play his first game.
The Riyadh Season Cup is a friendly tournament that features three teams: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Inter Miami. The tournament is part of the annual Saudi Arabian state-funded entertainment and sports festival known as the Riyadh Season, which also includes other events such as boxing, wrestling, and concerts. The Riyadh Season Cup is played in a league format, with each team facing each other once. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament wins the trophy.
The reactions from the players and coaches
Coach Leonardo Jardim of Al Hilal: “The players demonstrated a remarkable spirit and quality; it was a historic moment for Al Hilal players and Saudi Arabian football. We knew it was a difficult game against a very strong team with the best player in the world, Messi. But we played with confidence, with courage, and with intelligence. We scored four amazing goals, and we deserved to win. This is a historic moment for Al Hilal players and Saudi Arabian football.”
Inter Miami coach Phil Neville: “I’m very disappointed; we came here to win, and we lost. We made too many mistakes; we conceded four goals, and that’s not acceptable. We have to improve our defense, our concentration, and our discipline. We have to give credit to the Al Hilal players; they played very well, they have a lot of quality players, and they punished us. But we have to learn from this, and we have to react in the next game.”
Neymar, an Al Hilal player: “It was an incredible match and victory. We played with a lot of passion, a lot of determination, and a lot of skill. We scored four beautiful goals, and we showed that we are a great team. I’m very happy to score in my debut; it was a special moment for me. I want to dedicate this goal to the Al Hilal fans; they were amazing and supported us all the way. This is for them.”
Inter Miami player Lionel Messi: “It was a tough game, a tough loss. We tried our best; we scored three goals, but it was not enough. We have to congratulate the Al Hilal players; they played very well, they have a lot of talent, and they scored four incredible goals. We have to respect them; they deserve to win. But we have to move on, we have to focus on the next game, and we have to win. We have to show our character and our quality.”
Conclusion
The Riyadh Season Cup 2024 started with a thrilling game, as Al Hilal players beat Inter Miami 4-3 in a match that had everything: goals, drama, controversy, and star power. Al Hilal players showed that they are a force to be reckoned with and that they can compete with the best in the world. Inter Miami showed that they have a lot of potential and that they can score goals, but that they also have a lot of work to do, especially in defense. The tournament is still wide open, and anything can happen in the next two games. The Riyadh Season Cup 2024 promises to be an exciting and entertaining spectacle and a showcase of the best of football.
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FAQs
Q: What is the Riyadh Season Cup?
The Riyadh Season Cup is a friendly tournament that features three teams: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Inter Miami. The tournament is part of the annual Saudi Arabian state-funded entertainment and sports festival known as the Riyadh Season, which also includes other events such as boxing, wrestling, and concerts. The Riyadh Season Cup is played in a league format, with each team facing each other once. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament wins the trophy.
Q: Who are Al Hilal?
Al Hilal is a Saudi Arabian club based in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. They are the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, having won 17 league titles, 13 King’s Cups, and 3 AFC Champions League titles. They are also the current champions of the Saudi Pro League, the top division of Saudi Arabian football. They have a lot of quality players, including Neymar, Koulibaly, Mitrovic, Neves, and Milinkovic-Savic, who joined the club in the recent transfer windows.
Q: Who are Inter Miami?
Inter Miami is an American club based in Miami, Florida. They are one of the newest clubs in Major League Soccer, the top division of American football. They were founded in 2018 and played their first season in 2020. David Beckham, the former England and Manchester United footballer, co-owns them. They have a lot of star players, including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Rodolfo Pizarro, and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, who joined the club in the summer of 2023.
Q: When is the next game of the Riyadh Season Cup?
The next game of the Riyadh Season Cup is on February 1, 2024, when Inter Miami will face Al Nassr at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Al Nassr is another Saudi Arabian club that finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season.
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