Ivan Toney Hat-Trick Seals Al-Ahli Victory Over Al-Najma After Penalty Miss

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Ivan Toney turned a difficult night into another scoring landmark, hitting a second-half hat-trick as Al-Ahli defeated 10-man Al-Najma 4-1, a result that moves Al-Ahli level with Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings.

The striker saw a first-half penalty saved by Victor Braga, then responded with three goals after the interval. Al-Najma had led through Lazaro, but Valentin Atangana’s header and Felippe Cardoso’s dismissal shifted the match completely, allowing Toney and Al-Ahli to dominate the closing stages.

Al-Najma struck first in the 27th minute when Lazaro skipped past two defenders and finished neatly from a tight angle. That goal stunned the home crowd at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium and left Al-Ahli chasing the game during a tense first half.

Toney’s first big opportunity arrived from the spot after a handball by Guga in the 37th minute. Victor Braga dived low to the right to push away the penalty, ending Toney’s perfect run in the Saudi Pro League and preserving Al-Najma’s 1-0 advantage before half-time.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, Al-Ahli believed another penalty had been awarded when Braga appeared to miss a punch and catch Toney. However, VAR reviewed the incident and ruled there was not enough meaningful contact, so the original decision was overturned and Al-Najma kept the lead.

Any frustration for the home side faded quickly after the restart. In the 48th minute, Valentin Atangana stooped to meet a cross and guided a close-range header beyond Braga. That equaliser changed the tone of the contest and gave Al-Ahli the platform to chase three vital points.

Ivan Toney and Al-Ahli finish strongly in Saudi Pro League clash

The match tipped further towards Al-Ahli when Felippe Cardoso received a second yellow card, leaving Al-Najma with 10 players. With extra space, Riyad Mahrez attacked down the right and delivered a precise low cross, giving Toney a straightforward close-range finish to put Al-Ahli ahead.

Toney struck again three minutes from the end with a far-post effort that extended the lead. Four minutes into stoppage time, Al-Ahli received another penalty and this time Toney converted, sealing a second-half hat-trick and his third treble of the season in the Saudi Pro League.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Al-Riyadh defeated Al-Kholood 2-0, scoring both goals within the opening six minutes. In another high-scoring fixture, Al-Ettifaq edged Al-Fateh 4-3, surviving a strong fightback to secure the points in a dramatic Saudi Pro League encounter.

Toney’s saved penalty was the first miss of a Saudi Pro League career that now reads 18 goals from 19 attempts. Earlier, Toney had converted 17 consecutive spot-kicks in the competition and scored 11 of 12 penalties during a prolific spell in the Premier League with Brentford.

The latest treble lifts Toney to 23 league goals this season, including eight from penalties, giving the forward five more than any other player in the Saudi Pro League and underlining the importance of this performance to Al-Ahli’s challenge alongside Al-Hilal.