Al Ahli make early Roshn Saudi League statement as Ivan Toney hits three

Al Ahli moved level with Al Hilal and Al Nassr at the top of the Roshn Saudi League after Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick in a dominant 4-0 victory over Abha on Saturday.

The result gave Al Ahli a second consecutive win in the competition and took them to six points after two rounds. They had begun their campaign with a 1-0 victory against Al-Diriyah and have now kept two successive clean sheets.

Toney opened the scoring after only five minutes, converting a precise pass from Armenian midfielder Eduard Spertsyan inside the penalty area. The England striker controlled the opportunity expertly before sending the ball into the net to give Al Ahli an early lead.

The hosts continued to control the match after going ahead, with sustained possession and attacking movement across the pitch. Abha struggled to deal with the pressure and were unable to produce a meaningful response as Al Ahli dictated the tempo.

Al Ahli were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute, and Toney stepped up to take it. He showed composure from the spot, finding the net to double his side’s advantage and underline his reputation as a reliable penalty-taker.

Abha offered little threat during the remainder of the first half, while Al Ahli maintained control of possession and the rhythm of the game. The home side therefore went into the interval 2-0 ahead.

The pattern continued after the restart, with Al Ahli maintaining their attacking approach. Their pressure produced a third goal in the 51st minute when Portuguese forward Francisco Trincao struck with a powerful shot that flew into the net.

It was Trincao’s first goal since joining Al Ahli, but the Portugal international soon had another decisive contribution. He later supplied Toney with an excellent pass, allowing the striker to finish calmly and complete his hat-trick.

The fourth goal was Toney’s third of the evening and completed an outstanding individual performance. It also confirmed Al Ahli’s control of a match in which Abha struggled to match their opponents’ quality or intensity.

Al Ahli’s six points leave them level with Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq in the early Roshn Saudi League standings. Their emphatic win over Abha also demonstrated the attacking strength that could make them contenders near the top of the table this season.