1978 King Cup

The 1978 King Cup was the 20th season of the knockout competition since its establishment in 1956. Al-Ahli were the defending champions and successfully defended the title, winning their second one in a row.^[1] Al-Ahli beat Al-Riyadh who became the first First Division side to reach the final.

1978 King Cup

Tournament details
Country	Saudi Arabia
Dates	30 March – 21 April 1978
Teams	32
Defending champions	Al-Ahli
Final positions
Champions	Al-Ahli (8th title)
Runner-up	Al-Riyadh
Tournament statistics
Matches played	31
Goals scored	121 (3.9 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Amin Dabo (7 goals)
← 1977 1979 →

By winning both the 1977–78 Saudi Premier League and the 1978 King Cup, Al-Ahli became the first Saudi team to achieve the domestic double.

Bracket

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

H

Al-Ahli

9

A

Al-Jazeera

0

H

Al-Ahli

1

A

Al-Nassr

0

H

Al-Nassr

3

A

Al-Shate'e

0

H

Al-Ahli (a.e.t.)

3

A

Al-Wehda

0

H

Al-Wehda

6

A

Al-Kawkab

0

H

Al-Wehda

6

A

Al-Hada

0

H

Al-Rabe'e

2

A

Al-Hada

3

A

Al-Ahli

2

H

Al-Qadsiah

1

H

Al-Qadsiah

2

A

Al-Shoulla

0

A

Al-Qadsiah

2

H

Al-Hilal

1

H

Al-Hilal

2

A

Al-Arabi

1

A

Al-Qadsiah

3

H

Al-Ittihad

1

H

Al-Ittihad

2

A

Al-Jabalain

0

H

Al-Ittihad

1

A

Ohod

0

H

Ohod

7

A

Al-Fayha

0

–

Al-Ahli

1

–

Al-Riyadh

0

H

Al-Riyadh

3

A

Al-Nakhil

0

A

Al-Riyadh

3

H

Al-Ansar

2

H

Al-Ansar

4

A

Damac

0

H

Al-Riyadh (pen.)

1 (4)

A

Al-Shabab

1 (1)

H

Al-Shabab (a.e.t.)

4

A

Al-Khaleej

1

H

Al-Shabab

1

A

Hajer

0

H

Hajer

2

A

Al-Taawoun

1

A

Al-Riyadh

1

H

Al-Nahda

0

H

Al-Nahda

4

A

Al-Majd

0

H

Al-Nahda (pen.)

2 (3)

A

Al-Tai

2 (2)

H

Al-Tai

1

A

Okaz

0

H

Al-Nahda

1

A

Al-Ettifaq

0

H

Al-Ettifaq

14

A

Al-Tadamon

1

H

Al-Ettifaq

4

A

Al-Wadea

0

H

Al-Wadea

9

A

Tuwaiq

0

Source: Bracket

Round of 32

The matches of the Round of 32 were held on 30 and 31 March 1978.^[2][3][4]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Nassr	3–0	Al-Shate'e
Al-Ittihad	2–0	Al-Jabalain
Al-Tai	1–0	Okaz
Hajer	2–1	Al-Taawoun
Ohod	7–0	Al-Fayha
Al-Qadsiah	2–0	Al-Shoulla
Al-Ahli	9–0	Al-Jazeera
Al-Nahda	4–0	Al-Majd
Al-Riyadh	3–0	Al-Nakhil
Al-Wadea	9–0	Tuwaiq
Al-Rabe'e	2–3	Al-Hada
Al-Wehda	6–0	Al-Kawkab
Al-Ettifaq	14–1	Al-Tadamon
Al-Shabab	4–1 (a.e.t.)	Al-Khaleej
Al-Hilal	2–1	Al-Arabi
Al-Ansar	4–0	Damac

Round of 16

The Round of 16 matches were held on 5 and 6 April 1978.^[5][6]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Hilal	1–2	Al-Qadsiah
Al-Ittihad	1–0	Ohod
Al-Ettifaq	4–0	Al-Wadea
Al-Wehda	6–0	Al-Hada
Al-Shabab	1–0	Hajer
Al-Nahda	2–2 (3–2 pen.)	Al-Tai
Al-Ansar	2–3	Al-Riyadh
Al-Ahli	1–0	Al-Nassr

Quarter-finals

The Quarter-final matches were held on 11 and 12 April 1978.^[7][8]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Nahda	1–0	Al-Ettifaq
Al-Ittihad	1–3	Al-Qadsiah
Al-Ahli	3–0 (a.e.t.)	Al-Wehda
Al-Riyadh	1–1 (4–1 pen.)	Al-Shabab

Semi-finals

The four winners of the quarter-finals progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were played on 16 April 1978. All times are local, AST (UTC+3).

Al-Qadsiah	1–2	Al-Ahli
A. Al-Sagheer 39'	Report	Eid 57' Dabo 89'

16 April 1978

16:30

Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam, Dammam

Referee: Abdullah Al-Mawzan

Al-Nahda	0–1	Al-Riyadh
	Report	Al-Joaithin pen'

16 April 1978

20:30

Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam, Dammam

Final

The final was played between Al-Ahli and Al-Riyadh in the Youth Welfare Stadium in Riyadh.^[9] By reaching the final Al-Riyadh became the first First Division side to reach the final. This final was a repeat of the 1962 final which ended in a win for Al-Ahli.

Al-Ahli	1–0	Al-Riyadh
Khojali 27'	Report

21 April 1978

16:30 (UTC+3)

Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz, Riyadh

Referee: Fahad Al-Dahmash