RIYADH, Jan. 20 (BNA): Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi took fans back in time to the height of their storied rivalry, with the two strikers scoring in an exhibition game on Thursday before Hugo Ikitaek beat 10-man Paris Saint-Germain. 4- Victory over the Riyadh Season team.
Soccer fans around the world have had plenty of bang for their buck as the saga that has dominated the sport for more than a decade appears to have come to a close in an unforgettable goal-fest, Reuters reports.
In an action-packed first half at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Messi and Marquinhos canceled Ronaldo’s goals, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Juan Bernat was sent off for a foul against Saudi international Salem Al-Dosari.
The match resumed at a frantic pace after the end of the first half, as the goals came thick and fast as Sergio Ramos turned a cross from Kylian Mbappe into Paris Saint-Germain before South Korean Jang Hyun-soo responded with a header close to the post from a corner kick to make it 3-3.
An Ali Al Bulayhi handball earned the visitors a penalty, expertly dispatched by Mbappe in the first minute, before Hugo Ekitec extended the deficit to 5-3 with a crushing finish after a lunge run from the halfway point.
Anderson Talisca scored late for the Saudis in extra time, but an Ikitiki goal proved enough that night.
Although he was unable to get his new chapter in Saudi Arabia off to a successful start, the 37-year-old Ronaldo will enjoy his performance as he prepares to make his competitive debut for Al-Nassr when they host Al-Ettifaq on Sunday.
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