Al-Ahli Edge Al-Okhdood 1-0 As Toney Scores To Lift Jaissle's Side To Fourth

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Ivan Toney scored the only goal as Al-Ahli beat Al-Okhdood 1-0 at Prince Hathloul Bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium, securing a third straight Saudi Pro League win. The result pushed Matthias Jaissle's team up to fourth place and kept Al-Ahli firmly in the race with the leading clubs.

The victory moved Al-Ahli within three points of second-placed Al-Nassr and third-placed Al-Taawoun, tightening the battle near the top. Leaders Al-Hilal stayed seven points ahead of Al-Ahli, but Jaissle's side climbed above both Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ittihad after this narrow success.

The decisive moment arrived in the 58th minute after Al-Ahli forced pressure from a set-piece. Merih Demiral's powerful header was cleared off the line, triggering a scramble in the six-yard box. Ziyad Al Johani retrieved the ball and cut it back from just beyond the left post, leaving Toney with a simple tap-in.

Before that goal, Al-Ahli struggled to create clear chances and often relied on long-range attempts. Al-Okhdood defended deep and stayed organised, limiting space around the penalty area. However, the hosts did not register a single shot on target, which underlined their problems in the final third.

Al-Okhdood's best chance came at 0-0 when Burak Ince found space near the penalty spot. Ince struck with the left foot but failed to hit the target, wasting a rare opening. That miss proved costly once Toney converted, as Al-Ahli then managed the game and protected the slender lead.

Toney now has 10 goal contributions in 12 Saudi Pro League matches, with nine goals and one assist. Against Al-Okhdood, no player from either side matched Toney's three shots, two efforts on target, six touches in the box or his expected goals figure of 1.26, with the tap-in alone worth 0.89 xG.

Overall data also supported Al-Ahli's win, as Jaissle's side created the better chances throughout the contest. The visitors recorded 1.72 expected goals compared with Al-Okhdood's 0.87 and attempted more than twice as many shots, outshooting the hosts by 12 efforts to five across the 90 minutes.

The match underlined how important Toney has become for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, with efficient finishing turning a tight game. Strong defensive work and superior chance creation allowed Jaissle's side to edge Al-Okhdood, maintain momentum from three straight wins and keep pressure on the front-runners.