Al-Hilal suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Al-Ahly, falling 3-2 in what was billed as one of the most anticipated clashes of the Saudi Pro League season. The game took place at Kingdom Arena on February 28, 2025, and its outcome has significant ramifications for the title race.
The match began with both teams feeling each other out, resulting in a competitive yet uneventful first half. Much to the disappointment of the home crowd, neither team managed to find the back of the net before the break.
The second half marked the emergence of Iva Toney, who delivered an outstanding performance, scoring all three goals for Al-Ahly. His first goal came just two minutes after the restart when he received a pass from Gabriel Vega and unleashed a powerful shot past Al-Hilal's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou.
Six minutes later, Toney capitalized on another swift counter, converting with ease after Brazilian player Galeno provided him with the perfect cross. This sequence put Al-Hilal on the back foot, and as the minutes ticked away, their hopes began to dwindle.
Al-Hilal found some momentum when their captain, Salem Al-Dosari, scored in the 74th minute. Following impressive teamwork, Al-Dosari finished off the play, making it 2-1 and bringing his team's hopes back to life.
Just eight minutes later, Al-Hilal was awarded a penalty after Ali Majrashi inadvertently handled the ball. Marcos Leonardo stepped up to take the spot-kick and smoothly converted it to level the score at 2-2.
Al-Ahly, refusing to back down, regained the advantage when Toney completed his hat trick just two minutes before the final whistle. Breaking through Al-Hilal's defense after receiving a well-timed pass, his decisive strike sent the ball flying past Bounou once again, securing the victory for his team.
The defeat has left Al-Hilal with 51 points, putting them firmly in second place behind league leaders Al-Ittihad, who now hold 56 points. This outcome is particularly frustrating for Al-Hilal, who have been relentlessly chasing Al-Ittihad all season.
"Ivan Toney scored three goals allowing Al-Ahly to defeat the reigning champions, helping their rivals at the top of the table," one report noted, capturing the significance of Toney's contribution to the game.
Despite the loss, Al-Hilal does have room for improvement. They managed to maintain pressure on Al-Ahly throughout the match, but lapses in concentration proved costly. Coach Jorge Jesus will need to address these issues to revitalize the team's title fight as the season progresses.
On the other hand, Al-Ahly, upgraded to fourth place with this victory and now at 47 points, will seek to build on this momentum as they eye the top three positions, moving closer to the title race themselves.
This thrilling encounter showcased both teams' ambitions and skills, paving the way for what promises to be an exciting finish to the Saudi Pro League season. With rivals like Al-Ittihad firmly entrenched at the top, every point will be desperately contested, and this win gives Al-Ahly renewed hope and confidence as they aim to contend for the championship.