In a thrilling Saudi Pro League encounter on January 2, Al-Ahli delivered a decisive blow to league leaders Al Nassr with a 3-2 victory at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. English striker Ivan Toney stole the spotlight with a quickfire brace, dismantling Al Nassr’s unbeaten record and reshaping the title race.
Early Brilliance from Toney
Al-Ahli’s counter-attacking prowess proved lethal against Al Nassr’s exposed defense. Toney opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a tap-in from Galeno’s low cross, before doubling the lead just 13 minutes later with a clinical finish after latching onto a long ball from Ali Majrashi. Al-Ahli’s swift moves left Cristiano Ronaldo’s side struggling at 2-0, appearing to have seized complete control of the match.
Al Nassr’s Dramatic Comeback
Al Nassr mounted an unlikely revival through center-back Abdulelah Al Amri, whose speculative long-range shot squeezed past goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al Sanbi in the 31st minute. Al Amri struck again before halftime, heading home Marcelo Brozovic’s corner to level the score at 2-2, reigniting their hopes.
The second half witnessed Merih Demiral restore Al-Ahli’s lead with a 55th-minute header. Despite Al Nassr’s subsequent dominance, they lacked the cutting edge to equalize, with Ronaldo enduring a quiet night. Stoppage-time red cards for Ali Majrashi and Nawaf Boushal added further drama to an intense encounter.
This defeat opens the door for rivals Al Hilal to claim top spot, while Al-Ahli edges closer to the top four in the increasingly competitive Saudi Pro League 2025-26 season.