Al-Ahli 3-1 Al-Fateh: Toney's hat-trick sees hosts to routine win

Ivan Toney's hat-trick made it back-to-back Saudi Pro League wins for Al-Ahli as they saw off a spirited Al-Fateh side with Wednesday's 3-1 victory.

Although Al-Nassr may be out of reach for Al-Ahli, who trail the leaders by seven points, a crucial victory moved them five behind second-placed Al-Hilal and four clear of Al-Qadsiah in fourth.

Sofiane Bendebka spurned a glorious early opportunity for the visitors, and that miss was punished when Abdulaziz Al-Swealem felled Riyad Mahrez with 24 minutes on the clock.

Toney duly did the honours from the penalty spot, rolling into the bottom-right corner to open the scoring, before Franck Kessie was forced off with injury for the home side.

Firas Al-Buraikan wasted a good chance to make it 2-0 to Al-Ahli before half-time, and that came back to bite the hosts when Matias Vargas delivered delightfully for Bendebka to poke home in the 50th minute.

Matheus Goncalves passed up a pair of inviting opportunities shortly after, before Toney rattled the woodwork with a header, but the Al-Ahli striker would not be denied for much longer.

Substitute Zaydou Youssouf hauled down Roger Ibanez with 18 minutes remaining, and Toney once again converted his penalty into the same corner to restore Al-Ahli's lead.

But Toney was not done there – the England striker completed his treble and sealed the win in stoppage time after pouncing inside the six-yard box from Saleh Abu Al-Shamat's cross.

Data Debrief: Toney battling Quinones in Golden Boot race

Toney's treble moved him onto 30 goals for the Pro League season, one clear of Al-Qadsiah's Julian Quinones for the most goals in the competition this campaign.

It appears it will be a straight shoot-out between the pair for the Golden Boot, given Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo is four goals further back on 25.

Toney appeared on a one-man mission here, too, attempting a game-leading eight shots (with four of those on target) and accounting for 3.6 expected goals (xG) from Al-Ahli's 4.85 total, albeit aided by his two spot-kicks.

And Al-Fateh can have no arguments about the final score, having mustered 1.38 xG from 12 shots, figures that paled in comparison to Al-Ahli's attacking stats.