Al-Ahli Saudi FC end Al-Fateh hoodoo with four-goal win on Jamal Sellami debut

Al-Ahli Saudi FC began Jamal Sellami’s tenure in the Saudi Pro League with a convincing 4-0 victory over Al-Fateh, ending their opponents’ dominance in the opening head-to-head meeting between the sides in each of the previous three seasons.

The result came in the eighth round of the league and handed Al-Fateh a heavy defeat in their first match under new manager Sellami.

Francisco Trincao put the visitors ahead in the 31st minute before adding a second five minutes after half-time. Ivan Toney extended Al-Ahli’s lead in the 60th minute, and Ziyad Al-Juhani completed the scoring in the 89th minute.

Toney’s goal continued his scoring run, with the England international having now found the net in four consecutive matches. He has scored seven goals during that sequence.

The striker, who was named the best player of September, has scored 11 goals in total this season and is the league’s leading scorer.

Al-Ahli also kept a clean sheet for the fourth time this season. Substitute goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi started in place of Edouard Mendy, who missed the match because of injury.

The victory ended Al-Fateh’s advantage in the first meeting between the clubs in each of the past three seasons. Al-Ahli’s latest success was secured in Al-Ahsa.

Al-Fateh remain one of six teams yet to win since the start of the season, having failed to make the most of their eighth-round fixture.

Al-Ahli’s fourth win of the campaign lifted them to 15 points and fifth place in the table. Al-Fateh remain second from bottom with three points.