1979 King Cup

The 1979 King Cup was the 21st season of the knockout competition since its establishment in 1956. Al-Ahli were the defending champions and successfully defended the title, winning their third one in a row.^[1]

1979 King Cup

Tournament details
Country	Saudi Arabia
Dates	9 May – 8 June 1979
Teams	32
Defending champions	Al-Ahli
Final positions
Champions	Al-Ahli (9th title)
Runners-up	Al-Ittihad
Tournament statistics
Matches played	31
Goals scored	151 (4.87 per match)
Top goal scorer	Amin Dabo (10 goals)
← 1978 1980 →

Round of 32

The matches of the Round of 32 were held on 9, 10 and 11 May 1979.^[2][3][4]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Nassr	7–2	Al-Fara'a
Al-Ittihad	2–0	Okaz
Al-Khaleej	2–1	Al-Fateh
Al-Sharq	0–2	Al-Taawoun
Al-Qadsiah	12–1	Al-Watan
Al-Anwar	1–4	Al-Tai
Al-Rabi'e	3–1	Al-Najmah
Al-Riyadh	7–1	Al-Orobah
Al-Salam	3–0	Al-Ansar
Al-Wehda	3–0	Al-Raed
Al-Nakhil	1–0	Al-Hazem
Al-Rawdhah	3–1 (a.e.t.)	Ohod
Al-Shabab	4–1	Al-Nahda
Al-Hilal	8–1	Al-Jabalain
Al-Ettifaq	5–0	Hajer
Al-Ahli	10–1	Al-Wadea

Round of 16

The Round of 16 matches were held on 16, 17 and 18 May 1979.^[5][6][7]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Rabi'e	3–1	Al-Tai
Al-Riyadh	5–1	Al-Salam
Al-Wehda	0–1	Al-Khaleej
Al-Ettifaq	1–0	Al-Taawoun
Al-Rawdhah	3–1	Al-Nakhil
Al-Qadsiah	1–3	Al-Nassr
Al-Hilal	2–2 (8–9 pen.)	Al-Ittihad
Al-Ahli	1–0	Al-Shabab

Quarter-finals

The Quarter-final matches were held on 23, 24 and 25 May 1979.^[8][9][10]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Nassr	14–0	Al-Rabi'e
Al-Ittihad	3–0	Al-Riyadh
Al-Ettifaq	7–0	Al-Khaleej
Al-Ahli	6–1	Al-Rawdhah

Semi-finals

The four winners of the quarter-finals progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were played on 31 May and 1 June 1979. All times are local, AST (UTC+3).

31 May 1979

15:25

Al-Nassr	0–1	Al-Ittihad
	Report	Al-Shamrani 20'

Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz, Riyadh

Referee: Mohammed Al-Marzooq

1 June 1979

20:00

Al-Ahli	2–1	Al-Ettifaq
Dabo 3', 33'	Report	Yaaqoub 27'

Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah, Jeddah

Referee: Al-Zameel Al-Dahmash

Final

The final was played between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad in the Youth Welfare Stadium in Riyadh.^[11] This was the first final to be played by two teams from the same city. Al-Ahli were appearing in their 11th final while Al-Ittihad were appearing in their 8th final.

8 June 1979

20:30 (UTC+3)

Al-Ahli	4–0	Al-Ittihad
Muraiki 43' Dabo 55', 70' Dhiab 73'	Report

Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz, Riyadh

Attendance: 28,000

Referee: Fallaj Al-Shanar

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Amin Dabo	Al-Ahli	10
2	Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	6
3	Fareed Al-Moaidi	Al-Qadsiah	5
	Saleh Khalifa Al-Dosari	Al-Ettifaq
5	Néjib Limam	Al-Hilal	4
6	Sultan Bin Nasseb	Al-Hilal	3
	Rivellino	Al-Hilal