Al-Ahli 3-2 Al-Nassr: Toney Brace Ends Ronaldo's Unbeaten Run.

Al-Ahli 3-2 Al-Nassr: Toney Brace Ends Ronaldo's Unbeaten Run.

Al-Ahli Saudi 3-2 Al Nassr Highlights: Ivan Toney Scores Brace to Hand Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. First Defeat of the Season.

AHL vs NAS: Full Match Report and Highlights from the Saudi Pro League 2025-26 Clash at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah.

                    On January 2, 2026, the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah – affectionately known as "The Shining Jewel" for its stunning geometric roof design inspired by traditional Islamic patterns – played host to one of the most electrifying encounters of the Saudi Pro League season.

            Under the floodlights of this iconic 62,000-capacity arena, Al-Ahli Saudi delivered a tactical masterclass to inflict Al Nassr's first league defeat of the 2025-26 campaign, winning 3-2 in a five-goal thriller. Ivan Toney was the undisputed hero, scoring twice and assisting the winner, while Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating night as the league leaders' unbeaten run came crashing down.


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The aerial view of the stadium at night captures its unique petal-like roof, glowing brilliantly as fans poured in for this high-stakes Jeddah derby. Al-Ahli, playing in their shared home ground, started with ferocious intent, exploiting Al Nassr's high defensive line repeatedly.
Pre-Match Context and Lineups

Al Nassr arrived as runaway leaders with 31 points from 11 games (10 wins, 1 draw), having set a record with 10 consecutive victories before a 2-2 draw against Al-Ettifaq. Cristiano Ronaldo, joint-top scorer with 13 goals alongside teammate João Félix, captained a star-studded side. Al-Ahli, fourth on 22-25 points, were buoyed by recent wins but missing key players like Édouard Mendy, Franck Kessié, and Riyad Mahrez due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Al-Ahli Saudi Lineup (4-2-3-1): Abdulrahman Al Sanbi (GK); Ali Majrashi, Merih Demiral, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Zakaria Hawsawi; Valentin Atangana, Abdullah Al-Johnai; Wenderson Galeno, Matheus Gonçalves, Firas Al-Buraikan; Ivan Toney.
Al Nassr Lineup (4-2-3-1): Nawaf Al Aqidi (GK); Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulelah Al Amri, Iñigo Martínez, Saad Al-Nasser; Marcelo Brozović, Wesley Teixeira; Kingsley Coman, Ângelo Gabriel, João Félix; Cristiano Ronaldo (C).

Substitutes played key roles, with Al-Ahli introducing players like Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Al Nassr bringing on Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Sami Al-Najei.
First Half: Toney's Lightning Start and Al Nassr's Dramatic Comeback

The match exploded into life from the kickoff. In the very first minute, Al-Ahli nearly scored when Toney skipped past Saad Al-Nasser and slid in Galeno, whose shot was saved by Al Aqidi before Gonçalves rattled the crossbar with the rebound.

GOAL: Ivan Toney - 7' (Al-Ahli 1-0 Al Nassr) The breakthrough came soon after. Galeno broke free behind Sultan Al-Ghannam and squared perfectly for Toney, who calmly slotted home from close range. The English striker's clinical finish sent the home fans into rapture.

Al Ahli – Al Nassr 1 - 0 | GOAL – Ivan Toney

Ivan Toney celebrates his opener, wheeling away as Al Nassr reeled.

GOAL: Ivan Toney - 20' (Al-Ahli 2-0 Al Nassr) Toney doubled the lead with a classic counter-attack. Latching onto a long ball from Ali Majrashi, he outpaced the offside trap and coolly finished past Al Aqidi. Al-Ahli's ruthless exploitation of space behind the visitors' backline left Ronaldo and company stunned.

Al Ahli – Al Nassr 2 - 0 | GOAL – Ivan Toney

Toney's second goal – a brace inside 20 minutes that underlined his lethal form since joining Al-Ahli.

Al Nassr were gifted a lifeline as the half wore on.

GOAL: Abdulelah Al Amri - 31' (Al-Ahli 2-1 Al Nassr) Centre-back Al Amri's speculative long-range effort somehow squirmed through the legs of goalkeeper Al Sanbi in an embarrassing moment for the hosts.

GOAL: Abdulelah Al Amri - 44' (Al-Ahli 2-2 Al Nassr) The unlikely hero struck again just before halftime. Brozović's outswinging corner was met powerfully by Al Amri's header, leaving Al Sanbi rooted. An improbable brace from the defender leveled the scores in a frantic first half.

At the break, it was 2-2 – Al-Ahli dominant early, Al Nassr resilient late.

Second Half: Demiral's Winner and Late Drama

Al-Ahli regained control after the interval, with Toney continuing to torment the Nassr defense.

GOAL: Merih Demiral - 55' (Al-Ahli 3-2 Al Nassr) The decisive moment arrived from a set-piece. Gonçalves whipped in a free-kick, Toney provided a clever heel flick at the far post, and Demiral rose highest to nod home from close range. Toney's assist capped a man-of-the-match performance.

Al Nassr pushed desperately for an equalizer. Ronaldo had a quiet evening by his standards – a header off-target his best chance – as the visitors dominated possession but lacked cutting edge. João Félix and Coman threatened sporadically, but Al-Ahli's defense, marshaled by Demiral, held firm.

Late drama ensued in stoppage time (over 13 minutes added). Both sides were reduced to 10 men: Al-Ahli's Ali Majrashi and Al Nassr's Nawaf Al-Boushail saw red in a heated exchange. Despite the chaos, Al-Ahli clung on for a famous victory.


Toney brace sinks Ronaldo's Al Nassr in five-goal thriller | Reuters

Ivan Toney in action during the thriller.

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Toney, the brace hero, has been a revelation for Al-Ahli.
Post-Match Analysis and Implications

Ivan Toney's brace and assist earned him widespread acclaim, exposing Al Nassr's vulnerabilities on transitions. Matthias Jaissle's Al-Ahli side showcased counter-attacking prowess, closing the gap in the top-four race.

For Al Nassr, the defeat snapped an 11-match unbeaten streak and opened the door for Al-Hilal (29 points, game in hand) to leapfrog them atop the table. Ronaldo, despite his prolific season, drew a rare blank, highlighting a frustrating night.

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Cristiano Ronaldo in Al Nassr colors during the 2025-26 season.

This result injects fresh excitement into the title race, with Al-Ahli proving they can upset the "Big Yellow" giants. The Saudi Pro League continues to deliver world-class drama, and this Jeddah classic will be remembered as a turning point in the 2025-26 campaign.