The aura of invincibility surrounding Al Nassr’s 2025/26 Saudi Pro League campaign has finally been shattered. In a high-octane encounter at Alinma Stadium on Friday, Al Ahli handed the league leaders their first defeat of the season, clinching a 3-2 victory that reverberates far beyond the city of Jeddah.
For Al Nassr, the cracks that appeared in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Al Ettifaq—where former Liverpool player Georginio Wijnaldum bagged a brace—widened into a cavernous gap. If Wijnaldum provided the warning, it was another Premier League alumnus, Ivan Toney, who delivered the knockout blow.
Toney’s Statement for Tuchel
Ivan Toney didn’t just play; he dominated. The Englishman was the game’s undisputed protagonist, scoring twice and providing a sensational assist. Within 20 minutes, Toney had Al Nassr reeling, finding the net in the 7th and 20th minutes to silence the traveling support.
While he might rue a missed opportunity to secure a hat-trick just before the interval—clipping the post with a tap-in while the score was locked at 2-2—his overall efficiency is becoming impossible for England manager Thomas Tuchel to ignore. Toney has now amassed eight goals this season from just 15 shots on target, a clinical conversion rate that defines elite forward play.
#SaudiProLeague ⚽ – Striker TimNas Inggris, Ivan Toney mencetak 2 GOL dalam kemenangan Al Ahli atas Al Nassr pagi ini!
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Al Nassr showed the spirit of champions to claw back into the game before halftime. Abdulelah Al Amri emerged as an unlikely goal-scoring hero, matching Toney’s first-half double with strikes in the 31st and 44th minutes.
However, the second half belonged to Al Ahli’s tactical discipline and aerial prowess. In the 55th minute, Merih Demiral rose highest to power home a header, teed up by a stunning acrobatic assist from Toney.
Despite the late introduction of João Félix and the persistent threat of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr couldn’t find a second equalizer. The match descended into a fiery conclusion, with the referee brandishing red cards to both sides as tempers boiled over in the Jeddah heat.
#SaudiProLeague ⚽ – Umpan akrobatik Ivan Toney disambut dengan sundulan berkelas dari Merih Demiral 💥
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The Pressure Mounts
The defeat leaves Al Nassr precariously perched at the top of the table with 31 points. Their lead is now a mere shadow; Al Hilal sit just two points behind with a game in hand, poised to seize the summit if they defeat Damac on Sunday.
Reflecting on a night where his side’s defensive frailties were laid bare, Jorge Jesus was candid about the challenges ahead.
“Al Ahli’s victory has injected new life into this league. We are now in a three-horse race,” Jesus remarked post-match. “We faced a side we respect, but we were below par defensively, specifically in the second half. At this level, you cannot afford to concede goals as freely as we are right now.”
Jesus also pointed to the grueling schedule as a factor in his side’s stuttering form. “We are capable of scoring against anyone, but we are receiving too many in return. We will correct our course, but we cannot ignore the immense pressure and fatigue currently weighing on the squad.”
As the Saudi Pro League enters a pivotal winter stretch, Al Nassr no longer look like the runaway train they once were. The hunt is officially on.
