Ivan Toney scores as Al Ahli win dramatically 2-1 in the Saudi Pro League.

In round 32 of the Saudi Pro League, Al Ahli demonstrated the mettle of a top team by defeating Al Taawoun 2-1 away from home. On a day when their foreign stars shone at the right moment, coach Matthias Jaissle's team secured all three points to continue their pursuit of a top spot in the league standings.

Ivan Toney's star moment

Despite playing away at Al Taawoun Club Stadium, Al Ahli quickly imposed their style of play thanks to the mobility of their midfield. The deadlock was broken in the 17th minute. From an attack down the left wing, Matteo Dams delivered a precise cross that completely bypassed the opposing defense. Ivan Toney showed why he is one of the league's most expensive strikers with a powerful header, opening the scoring for the visitors.

Toney's goal opened up the game. Al Taawoun, with the home advantage, showed no signs of wavering, pushing forward and constantly applying high-pressure tactics. However, the first half ended without any further goals as Al Ahli's defense, under the command of Ibanez, played with exceptional concentration.

A thrilling chase for the lead in the second half.

In the second half, Al Taawoun's relentless efforts finally paid off. In the 55th minute, Flavio delivered a sharp pass that tore through the visitors' defense, allowing Angelo Fulgini to calmly finish and equalize the score at 1-1. The equalizer further fueled the home team, making the match incredibly tense with numerous fierce clashes.

Amidst the evenly matched game, the class of Al Ahli's stars once again shone through. In the 79th minute, Riyad Mahrez – who had recently drawn attention for gifting a Rolex watch to a teammate – delivered a tricky corner kick. Defender Ibanez positioned himself intelligently, leaping higher than everyone else to head the ball powerfully into the net, restoring the visitors' lead.

Dramatic until the very last second.

The injury time saw suffocating pressure from Al Taawoun. In the 90+9th minute, Al Ahli's young midfielder Enzo Millot nearly sealed the match with a lightning-fast counter-attack. His low shot beat the goalkeeper but hit the post, much to the disappointment of the fans.

Nevertheless, the 2-1 scoreline was maintained until the final whistle. This victory helped Al Ahli consolidate their third place position in the standings with 75 points, now just two points behind second-placed Al Hilal as the season enters its final rounds.