Ivan Toney ends Al Nassr’s unbeaten streak in 5-goal thriller as Ronaldo gasps in frustration
Al-Ahli handed Al Nassr their first defeat of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season on Friday, securing a 3-2 victory at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. In a match defined by clinical counter-attacking and defensive lapses, England striker Ivan Toney stole the spotlight with two early goals before turning provider for the winner.
The hosts exploited Al Nassr's high defensive line from the whistle, with Galeno hitting the crossbar in the first minute. Toney opened the scoring in the seventh minute, tapping in a low cross from Galeno, and doubled the lead just 13 minutes later by thumping a powerful finish past Nawaf Al Aqidi.
Despite the early shock, Al Nassr found a route back into the game through center-back Abdulelah Al Amri, who benefited from a goalkeeper howler by Abdulrahman Al Sanbi before heading home a Marcelo Brozovic corner to level the match at 2-2 just before the break.
The decisive moment arrived in the 55th minute when Merih Demiral broke the deadlock, nodding home from close range after Toney acrobatically hooked a Matheus Goncalves free-kick into his path.
While Al Nassr dominated possession for the remainder of the half, they lacked the cutting edge to find a third equalizer. Cristiano Ronaldo, typically the focal point of the attack, had a frustrating evening, with an off-target header in the first half being his only contribution.
The closing stages were marred by rising tensions as both sides were reduced to ten men in stoppage time. Ali Majrashi was sent off for Al-Ahli after striking Joao Felix in the face, while Al Nassr’s Nawaf Boushal received a red card for a professional foul as the last man.
Despite the late drama, Al-Ahli held firm to preserve the win, moving within three points of third-placed Al Taawoun and reinforcing Toney's status as a dominant force in the league with 31 goals in 31 appearances.
While Al-Ahli remains in fourth place, the victory injects a good momentum into their campaign. For Al Nassr, the loss of their unbeaten streak marks a potential turning point in the title race, as they now await the outcome of Al Hilal's weekend fixture to see if they will retain their lead at the summit.
