Toney’s Brilliance Secures Victory for Al-Ahli Against Al-Nassr

In a thrilling first half, the match saw four goals scored, with Ivan Toney opening the scoring for Al-Ahli in the seventh minute. Toney doubled the lead shortly after, capitalizing on a long ball from the defense to powerfully find the back of the net for his second goal of the night.

Al-Nassr appeared rattled but found an unexpected opportunity to equalize when goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi made a critical mistake, allowing Abdulelah Al-Amri’s distant shot to slip through his legs.

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s lackluster performance, Al-Nassr managed to level the score thanks to a header from their center-back, who connected with a corner delivered by Marcelo Brozovic, leaving Al-Sanbi unable to respond.

Toney continued to influence the game by providing an exceptional flick just before the hour mark, keeping a set-piece alive for Merih Demiral, who headed in to restore Al-Ahli’s lead at 3-2.

Al-Nassr pressed for an equalizer, but with both Ronaldo and Joao Felix off form, they were unable to convert their opportunities. The match concluded with late drama as Ali Majrashi and Nawaf Al-Boushail were sent off during stoppage time. This defeat marked Al-Nassr’s first league loss of the season, allowing Al-Hilal a chance to overtake them at the top of the table.

On a pivotal night in the Saudi Pro League title race, Ivan Toney outshone his counterparts, securing an early lead for Al-Ahli with his brace. Although Al-Ahli remains six points behind Al-Nassr, Toney’s performance injected confidence into his squad as they aim to narrow that gap.

Interestingly, three of the goals came from center-backs, indicating a night where strikers struggled. Ronaldo’s performance was particularly disappointing; he was largely ineffective in the first half and missed a crucial chance to equalize, ultimately leaving him visibly frustrated as he lamented his missed opportunities.