“Ivan Toney opens the scoring for Al Ahli after a frantic passage of play around the Al Taawoun box. Three Al Ahli shots are blocked or missed in the build-up before Toney finds the net to make it 0-1.”
Pivotal“Angelo Fulgini pulls Al Taawoun level at 1-1, capitalising on Al Taawoun's improved second-half showing after a halftime reshuffle that included a substitute introduced at the break.”
Pivotal“Ziyad Al-Johani picks up a second yellow card in the space of his short time on the pitch, adding disciplinary chaos to Al Taawoun's growing frustrations in the second half.”
“Roger Ibañez restores Al Ahli's lead with a crucial goal to make it 1-2, punishing Al Taawoun's inability to convert their territorial dominance into a lead of their own and proving to be the match-winner.”
Pivotal
Al Taawoun
Al Ahli
Outstanding performance
Al Taawoun•AttackerAl Ahli came to Qassim and left with three points despite spending much of the match chasing the statistical contest. Al Taawoun dominated possession at 56 percent, manufactured 15 shots to Al Ahli's nine, and generated 56 dangerous attacks compared to just 29 from the visitors — yet it was Al Ahli who finished more clinical when it mattered, converting from three big chances created to Al Taawoun's one. Ivan Toney put the visitors ahead with a composed finish in the 17th minute following a spell of frantic Al Ahli pressure around the penalty area, but Al Taawoun steadied themselves and eventually found their equaliser through Angelo Fulgini ten minutes into the second half. The hosts then pushed for a winner — a natural outcome given their territorial dominance — but Al Ahli absorbed the pressure and produced a sucker punch in the 79th minute when Roger Ibañez converted to make it 2-1. The result extends Al Ahli's winning form and deepens Al Taawoun's frustrations in what has been a difficult campaign, with six yellow cards across the afternoon reflecting the mounting tensions of a side that controlled the ball but could not control the outcome.
How entertaining was this match?
Enzo Millot takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Mohammed Sulaiman comes on for Riyad Mahrez.
Saif Rashad Mohamed comes on for Flavio Medeiros da Silva.
Ivan Toney takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gabriel Teixeira Aragao comes on for Mohammed Al-Dossari.
Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Roger IbañezRoger Ibanez Da Silva takes a shot with his head and scores a goal.
Muteb Al Mufarraj comes on for Andrei Girotto.
Roger Ibanez Da Silva attempts a header but misses the shot.
Mohammed Al-Dossari takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Shot by Mohammed Mahzari with his right foot misses the target.
Matheus Goncalves comes on for Saleh Aboulshamat.
Rayan Hamed replaces Ali Majrashi.
Angelo Fulgini's right-footed shot is saved.
Angelo FulginiAngelo Fulgini scores with a right-footed shot.
Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Yellow card for Mohammed Al-Dossari.
Enzo Millot's left-footed shot is saved.
Ziyad Mubarak Al Johani is substituted for Valentin Atangana Edoa.
The first half ends with a score of 0-1.
Roger Martinez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Mohammed Mahzari takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Ivan ToneyIvan Toney scores with a header.
assist: Matteo Dams
Goal! Ivan Toney scores, making it 1-0.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Roger Martinez takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Marin Petkov's left-footed shot is blocked.
Saleh Aboulshamat takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Roger Ibanez Da Silva takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Al Ahli arrive at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium sitting third in the Pro League, hungry for points in what could be a pivotal late-season clash. Al Taawoun have found some form of late but face a stern test against one of the division's most decorated squads. Expect goals, intensity, and a battle between world-class imports and hungry homegrown talent.
