NEOM 0-3 Al-Ahli: Toney and Mahrez help secure seventh straight win

  /  autty

Ivan Toney scored for a seventh successive game as Al-Ahli maintained the pressure on Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal with a 3-0 victory over 10-man NEOM.

Riyad Mahrez and Enzo Milot were also on target at King Khalid Sport City Stadium, where Matthias Jaissle's side struck three times in 12 minutes to register their seventh straight win and moved within four points of the Pro League summit.

NEOM were aiming to end a four-game winless streak and thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half, but Luciano Rodriguez's curling strike was ruled out for offside.

However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half. Toney calmly sent Luis Maximiano the wrong way from the penalty spot, after Nathan Zeze was penalised for fouling Ali Majrashi following a VAR review.

The hosts were then reduced to 10 men with Khalifah Al Dawsari given his marching orders for a last-man foul on Galeno after another VAR review.

Al Ahli doubled their lead from the resulting free-kick with Toney teeing up Mahrez to brilliantly curl into the far corner on 64 minutes.

Mahrez was involved again as Al-Ahli sealed the points three minutes later, threading the ball through for Franck Kessie, who subsequently squared it for Milot to tuck into an empty net from close range.

Data Debrief: Lucky seven all round for Al-Ahli

Al-Ahli have won seven straight games in the Saudi Pro League for the first time since doing so between December 2016 and February 2017.

The Royals have also won seven successive Pro League matches against promoted sides, having last done that between 2015 and 2016.

Al-Ahli also completed their second double against a promoted team in the division without conceding for only the second time in the last seven seasons.

Related: Al-Ahli SFC Mahrez
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