Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi transported followers again in time to the heyday of their storied rivalry, as each forwards bought 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 lasting significance for the groups concerned, soccer followers around the globe bought 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, objectives from Messi and Marquinhos had been cancelled out by a Ronaldo brace, whereas PSG’s Juan Bernat was despatched off for a lunging deal with on Saudi worldwide Salem Al-Dawsari.
The sport resumed at a frenetic tempo after the break, with objectives coming thick and quick as Sergio Ramos turned in a Kylian Mbappe cross for PSG 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, earlier than Hugo Ekitike prolonged the result in 5-3 with a thumping end following a lung-busting run from the midway line.
Anderson Talisca scored late for the Saudis in added time, however Ekitike’s strike proved to be sufficient on the evening.
Though he was unable to get his latest chapter in Saudi Arabia off to a successful begin, 37-year-old Ronaldo will take coronary heart from his efficiency as he prepares to make his first aggressive look for Al Nassr when it hosts Al Ettifaq on Sunday.
