Al Ahli 1-1 Al Riyadh: Toney scores, wins 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 at the end of the match; ranked 5th, 5 points behind Al Nassr.
Al Ahli drew 1-1 with Al Riyadh in the 7th round of the Saudi Pro League in a match decided by two penalties in extra time. Ivan Toney scored a penalty in the 90+1 minute after VAR confirmed a handball, but Toze equalized in the 90+11 minute. At the end of the match, Ziyad Al Johani received a straight red card. Al Ahli are currently 5th, 5 points behind leaders Al Nassr.
Dramatic extra time: two decisive penalties
The game was evenly balanced throughout the 90 minutes, with chances appearing but neither side converting 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 and Ivan Toney calmly converted it in the 90+1 minute, opening the score 1-0.
Al Ahli were up all three points, but just four minutes later, Abdulelah Al Khaibari committed a foul in the box, giving Al Riyadh a chance. Toze did not miss the penalty in the 90+11 minute, sealing the 1-1 score. Not stopping there, Al Ahli finished the match with 10 men when Ziyad Al Johani received a straight red card just minutes after the equalizer.
How the match was decided: decisions in the penalty area
In a game where effective finishing was scarce, decisions in the penalty area became crucial. A handball after sustained pressure forced the referee to call VAR, and then a foul in the box when Al Ahli needed to preserve their advantage. Two late individual errors wiped out Toney’s goal and changed the game completely.
The psychological order in the extra minutes was clear: the winning team needed to control the risks in the penalty area, the losing team raised expectations on set pieces. The match was therefore decided by defensive discipline and precision on the 11m mark.
Main events by timeline
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Minute 85 | Marzouq Tambakti handled the ball in the penalty area; referee consulted VAR |
| Minute 90+1 | Ivan Toney scored a successful penalty, Al Ahli 1-0 |
| Minute 90+5 | Abdulelah Al Khaibari fouled in the penalty area, Al Riyadh was awarded a penalty |
| Minute 90+11 | Toze successfully took the penalty, Al Riyadh equalized 1-1 |
| End of the game | Ziyad Al Johani received a direct red card |
Impact on rankings
The draw left Al Ahli with just one point. They are fifth in the Saudi Pro League standings and five points behind leaders Al Nassr.
