Ivan Toney Hat-Trick Impacts Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League Title Hopes

Image credits: DAZN

The Saudi Pro League has witnessed a significant turn of events as Ivan Toney's hat-trick helped Al-Ahli secure a 3-2 victory over Al-Hilal, dealing a substantial blow to the latter's title hopes. This loss leaves Al-Hilal five points behind league leaders Al-Ittihad, making their path to the championship increasingly challenging. Al-Hilal's next match against Al-Okhdood on Sunday becomes crucial as they aim to strengthen their position in the title race.

Al-Ahli took the lead shortly after halftime when Toney scored, with his shot deflecting off Yassine Bounou into the net. Toney then doubled both his and Al-Ahli's tally by finishing a well-executed attacking play, assisted by Galeno. However, Al-Hilal quickly responded through their captain, Salem Al Dawsari. The match saw Al-Hilal awarded a penalty following Ali Majrashi's handball inside the box, which Marcos Leonardo converted in the 81st minute, leveling the score. But Gabri Veiga's lofted pass found Toney, who completed his hat-trick with a left-footed strike, securing three crucial points for Al-Ahli.

This victory brought Al-Ahli level on points with Al-Nassr in the standings. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr faced a surprising 2-1 defeat to 11th-placed Al-Orubah at Al-Jouf University Stadium. Omar Al Somah played a key role for Al-Orubah, contributing a goal and an assist. Cristiano Ronaldo had an early chance but failed to challenge Rafi Al Ruwaili in goal for Al-Orubah. The match saw Nawaf Bu Washl equalize shortly after halftime, but Johann Gudmundsson restored Al-Orubah's lead with a stunning long-range shot, marking their first league win over Al-Nassr in six attempts.

The Saudi Pro League continues to unfold with intense matches, including the upcoming clash between Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, which can be watched on DAZN. The platform offers live coverage of the Saudi Pro League, with matches kicking off at 7 pm for fans in the UK. Al-Hilal, led by Jorge Jesus, aims to bounce back from their recent defeat, while Al-Ahli, with Ivan Toney's form, seeks to continue their impressive run. The title race is heating up, with Al-Ittihad maintaining a five-point lead at the top, and teams like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr pushing to close the gap, making the league increasingly competitive.

The standings currently show Al-Ittihad at the top, followed by Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining the final champions of the Saudi Pro League. Here are the current standings:

• Al-Ittihad - 1st place
• Al-Hilal - 2nd place
• Al-Nassr - 3rd place

The schedule for the upcoming matches is as follows:

1. Friday, February 28: Al-Hilal vs Al-Ahli
2. Saturday, March 1: Al-Nassr vs Al-Orubah
3. Sunday, March 2: Al-Ittihad vs Al-Okhdood

hilal toney ivan saudi pro hat trick ahli ittihad title