Al Ahli 1-1 Al Riyadh: Toney scores, victory comes in injury time.
Ivan Toney opened the scoring from the penalty spot after VAR in the 90+1 minute, but Toze equalized 1-1 in the 90+11 minute and Al Ahli also received a red card late in the match; they are in 5th place, 5 points behind Al Nassr.
Al Ahli drew 1-1 against Al Riyadh in Round 7 of the Saudi Pro League in a match decided by two penalties in injury time. Ivan Toney successfully converted a penalty in the 90+1 minute after VAR confirmed a handball, but Toze equalized 1-1 in the 90+11 minute. Late in the match, Ziyad Al Johani received a direct red card. Al Ahli currently sits in 5th place, 5 points behind league leaders Al Nassr.
Drama in injury time: two penalties decided the match.
The match remained evenly balanced for 90 minutes, with chances appearing but neither side converting them into goals. The turning point came in the 85th minute when Marzouq Tambakti handled the ball in the penalty area. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded Al Ahli a penalty, which Ivan Toney calmly converted in the 90+1 minute, opening the scoring at 1-0.
Al Ahli were on the verge of securing all three points, but just four minutes later, Abdulelah Al Khaibari committed a foul in the penalty area, giving Al Riyadh a chance. Toze didn't miss from the penalty spot in the 90+11th minute, leveling the score at 1-1. Adding to the woes, Al Ahli finished the match with 10 men when Ziyad Al Johani received a direct red card just minutes after the equalizer.
How the match was decided: the decision in the penalty area.
In a game lacking effective finishing opportunities, decisions in the penalty area became crucial. A handball under constant pressure forced the referee to consult VAR, followed by a foul inside the box at a moment when Al Ahli needed to protect their lead. Two individual errors at the end of the match negated Toney's goal and completely changed the course of the game.
The psychological order in injury time was clear: the leading team needed to control risks in the penalty area, while the trailing team placed high hopes on set pieces. The match was therefore decided by defensive discipline and accuracy from the penalty spot.
Key developments in chronological order
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 85th minute | Marzouq Tambakti handled the ball in the penalty area; the referee consulted VAR. |
| 90+1 minute | Ivan Toney successfully converted the penalty, giving Al Ahli a 1-0 lead. |
| 90+5 minutes | Abdulelah Al Khaibari committed a foul in the penalty area, and Al Riyadh was awarded a penalty. |
| Minute 90+11 | Toze successfully converted the penalty, and Al Riyadh equalized 1-1. |
| End of match | Ziyad Al Johani received a direct red card. |
Impact on rankings
The draw leaves Al Ahli with only 1 point. They are currently 5th in the Saudi Pro League standings and 5 points behind league leaders Al Nassr.
