Al-Ahli Snatch Top Spot with Gritty Victory Over Al-Riyadh

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — In a match defined by narrow margins and controversial moments, Al-Ahli SC Jeddah secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium on Thursday evening. The result temporarily propelled the visitors to the summit of the Roshn Saudi League, piling pressure on title rivals Al Nassr .

In a game where Al-Ahli’s star-studded attack was repeatedly denied by the offside flag and the woodwork, the decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute via an unfortunate own goal from Al-Riyadh’s veteran Canadian goalkeeper, Milan Borjan .

A Night of Frustration for the Title Chasers

Coming into the match as heavy favorites, Matthias Jaissle’s Al-Ahli side dominated possession from the outset. The statistics underscored their control; they fired 15 shots compared to Al-Riyadh’s 13 and created a higher expected goals (xG) tally of 1.51 . Yet, despite the presence of the league’s top scorer Ivan Toney—who has netted 23 goals this season—the final product was agonizingly out of reach for much of the night .

The first half was a masterclass in offside traps. Al-Ahli saw two goals disallowed by VAR, with Roger Ibanez and later Toney himself having efforts ruled out for offside . The pattern continued after the interval, with Galeno also falling victim to the linesman’s flag after slotting home a rebound .

Al-Riyadh, fighting to escape the relegation mire that has them rooted in 15th place, defended heroically . Despite their lowly position, they frustrated the league’s second-place team and even created chances of their own, mustering 13 shots, though notably failing to put a single one on target .

The Stroke of Fortune

Just as it seemed Al-Riyadh’s resilience would earn them a valuable point, the deadlock was broken in cruel fashion. Galeno’s in-swinging corner caused chaos in the six-yard box. Under pressure from Al-Ahli attackers, Borjan could only flap at the ball, inadvertently punching it into his own net .

The goal was a gut punch for the home side, who had kept their composure against one of the league's most expensive attacking lineups.

In the dying embers of the match, Toney thought he had finally gotten his name on the scoresheet with a clinical finish on the counter-attack, only for a third VAR intervention to rule it out, preserving the slender 1-0 scoreline .

Jaissle: "Decided by Small Details"

After the match, Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture, emphasizing the fine lines that now define the title race.

 "It was a tough match, and in this league, every encounter is decided by simple decisions," Jaissle said in the post-match press conference. "I am happy with the players' performance and returning home with the three points. Every match is decided by small details, especially with the tight schedule, and I am proud of the players who compensated for the absence of some members" .

Jaissle also confirmed that the absence of star winger Riyad Mahrez was a tactical decision to manage workload, keeping him fresh for the upcoming fixtures as Al-Ahli competes on multiple fronts .

Top of the Table, Bottom of the Barrel

The victory took Al-Ahli to 59 points from 24 games, momentarily leapfrogging Al Nassr at the top of the table . For Al-Riyadh, the defeat leaves their survival hopes hanging by a thread. They remain in 15th place, and as the Saudi Professional League’s official website noted before the match, their recent home form has been a major concern, having won only two of their previous 15 home league matches prior to this fixture .

With Al Nassr breathing down their necks, Al-Ahli’s ability to grind out results on an off-night—a hallmark of champions—will be a massive confidence booster. For Al-Riyadh, the pain of an unlucky own goal compounds a season of struggle, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the battle to beat the drop.