Match story
- Saudi Arabia fired more attempts (28 vs 1 shots).
- Saudi Arabia was more accurate in front of goal (25% on target vs 0%).
- Saudi Arabia held more of the ball (75% possession).
Saudi Arabia defeated Kyrgyzstan 0-2 in the Asian Cup. The fixture is part of the Group Stage - 2 stage in the 2023 season. The match was played at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan. J. Iida officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Kyrgyzstan vs Saudi Arabia meeting in Asian Cup with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Asian CupRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Model outlook versus market-implied chances (overround removed from decimal odds). For entertainment and analysis only — not betting advice.
Estimated outcome mix from Sportra's pre-match model
No prematch 1X2 odds snapshot available.
No in-play odds snapshot was captured for this match.
The 2-1 loss ended a perfect start for Ange Postecoglou's side, but another setback has emerged that could complicate the team's preparations for its next league fixture. Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix are facing a fresh challenge at Al-Nassr after the club suffered its first defeat of the Saudi Pro League season against Al-Ittihad. The 2-1 loss ended a perfect start for Ange Postecoglou’s side, but another setback has emerged that could complicate the team’s preparations for its next league fixture. Al-Nassr fought back after falling two goals behind in Jeddah, with Angelo pulling one back before the visitors piled on the pressure. Despite creating several chances late in the match, however, Al-Ittihad held on to claim a major victory and move within one point of Al-Nassr in the table. Al-Ittihad made a flying start, with George Ilenikhena opening the scoring after only four minutes. Steven Bergwijn’s effort was saved by Nawaf Al-Aqidi and came back off the post, allowing Ilenikhena to react quickest and head the rebound into the bottom corner. The young striker doubled his tally in the 22nd minute after Houssem Aouar found him with a clever ball behind the Al-Nassr defence. Ilenikhena kept his composure before producing a superb left-footed finish, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage and putting Al-Nassr in serious trouble. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr reacts The visitors eventually found a route back into the contest through Angelo. Cristiano Ronaldo helped create the opening with a brilliant first-touch lob into the area, which released Felix before the ball eventually fell to Angelo, who fired home to make it 2-1 before half-time. Al-Nassr suffers first defeat despite strong push for equalizer Al-Nassr emerged from the interval with much greater intensity and began creating opportunities around the Al-Ittihad penalty area. Ronaldo tested Predrag Rajkovic with a left-footed effort, while Felix also threatened from a difficult angle. Rajkovic quickly became the difference between the two teams, making five saves in the second half alone as Al-Nassr searched desperately for an equaliser. His biggest intervention came late in the match when Felix played Sadio Mane through, only for the Serbian goalkeeper to produce another outstanding stop. The result represents a significant blow for Postecoglou, whose team had won each of its opening four league matches. Al-Nassr remains second on 12 points, while Al-Hilal has moved three points clear at the top, with Al-Ittihad now sitting fourth on 11 points. The defeat also means Ronaldo finished the match without adding to his league tally. The reason why Joao Felix will miss Abha clash The latest headache concerns Felix, who will miss Al-Nassr’s next Saudi Pro League match against Abha on Wednesday, September 9. The reason is connected to an incident late in the defeat to Al-Ittihad, when the Portuguese attacker was booked for a challenge on Richard Rios. That yellow card was his fourth caution of the season, triggering an automatic one-match suspension under the Saudi Pro League’s competition regulations. His absence leaves Postecoglou without one of the team’s most productive attacking players at a particularly important moment. Match DateOpponentFelix’s PerformanceMatch ResultAug. 15Al Fateh⚽ 1 Goal, 🟨 Yellow CardWon 3–0Aug. 21Al-Riyadh⚽ 1 GoalWon 4–0Aug. 25Al-Ettifaq🅰️ 2 Assists, 🟨 Yellow CardWon 3–2Aug. 28Al-Taawoun🟨 Yellow CardWon 2–1Sep. 5Al-Ittihad🟨 Yellow CardLost 1–2 Felix has made an excellent start to life in Saudi Arabia, scoring against Al-Fateh and Al-Riyadh while providing two assists against Al-Ettifaq. He has now contributed two goals and two assists in the league, but his disciplinary record will force him to watch the Abha match from the sidelines. The suspension was not the only frustration for Felix following the defeat. The forward appeared visibly angry with the officiating and declined to give reporters a full interview after the final whistle. Instead, the Por
While the Portugal captain remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the award, a remarkable pattern involving his international teammates has emerged over the past few years. Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself in an increasingly familiar position as another Ballon d’Or shortlist arrives without his name on it. While the Portugal captain remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the award, a remarkable pattern involving his international teammates has emerged over the past few years. The latest shortlist has once again highlighted the changing landscape of Portuguese soccer. A new generation of stars continues to receive recognition on the biggest individual stage, creating an unusual chapter in Ronaldo’s extraordinary Ballon d’Or story. Ronaldo’s omission from the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist extends a run that would have been difficult to imagine during the peak of his career. The Al-Nassr forward had been a near-permanent presence among the nominees for almost two decades after first appearing on the shortlist in 2004. His absence began in 2023, when he failed to make the final 30 after moving to Saudi Arabia. Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias were among the Portugal players nominated that year, while Ronaldo watched the ceremony from outside the field of contenders. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 and Bernardo Silva #10 of Portugal react after conceding a goal. The same pattern continued in 2024, when Ronaldo again failed to make the shortlist. Ruben Dias and other Portugal internationals continued to receive recognition, showing that the national team’s influence on the award was growing even without its most famous player. The four-year pattern involving Portugal The trend becomes particularly striking when the four most recent editions are placed side by side. From 2023 through 2026, Ronaldo has failed to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or in every edition while at least one of his Portugal teammates has made the shortlist. HERE ARE ALL THE BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hg1ZByzhDV— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 6, 2023 In 2023, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias were nominated, while 2024 saw Dias and Vitinha among the recognized Portugal internationals. Ronaldo was absent on both occasions, despite remaining one of the most prolific forwards in world soccer. Here are the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/tehmbU4R0j— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025 The pattern became even stronger in 2025. Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha were nominated, while Ronaldo once again missed out on the 30-man shortlist. OUR 2026 MEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/GQFsH5u5lO— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026 Then came 2026, when the number of Portugal teammates nominated increased further. Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha all made the Ballon d’Or shortlist, giving Ronaldo another year watching as members of Portugal’s next generation received individual recognition. YearRonaldo’s Club Teammates NominatedRonaldo’s International Teammates NominatedTotal Year Nominations202303 (Silva, Dias, Fernandes)3202403 (Dias, Vitinha, Fernandes)3202504 (Silva, Dias, Vitinha, Fernandes)420261 (Mane)5 (Fernandes, Vitinha, Dias, Mendes, Neves)6Total11516 2026 brings another twist The 2026 edition also introduced an unusual development because Ronaldo’s club teammate Sadio Mane was nominated. Mane became the first active Al-Nassr teammate to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination during Ronaldo’s time at the Saudi club, adding another layer to an increasingly interesting statistic. Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ⬇️@SMane_Officiel@AlNassrFC@AlNassrFC_EN@Fsfofficielle@GaindeYi#ballondor pic.twitter.com/i6dI76cbFZ— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026 According to Ballon d’Or, Portugal brought together Ronaldo and several other players with previous Ballon d’Or nominations as the national team continues to build around a generation of elite ta
Rangers flop Derek Cornelius’ proposed move from Marseille to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq has fallen through at the last minute. The post Star Who Flopped At Rangers Sees Saudi Arabia Move Fall Through appeared first on Inside Futbol | Latest Football News, Transfer Rumours & Articles.
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