JEDDAH — Al-Ahli continued their winning streak with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab in the 14th round of the Saudi Pro League, hosted at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium. English forward Ivan Toney struck within seconds of kick-off, setting the tone for an electrifying encounter. Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga doubled Al-Ahli's lead, making it easier for the home side to claim all three points. The victory lifted Al-Ahli to 26 points, while Al-Shabab, struggling to find form, remains on 23 points, extending their winless run in the league. Al-Shabab, buoyed by their recent triumph over Al-Fayha to reach the King's Cup semi-finals, looked defensively fragile in this matchup. The team, under Turkish manager Fatih Terim, missed the services of Italian midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura, who was granted leave to attend to emergency family matters. Saad Balebeid added a third goal for Al-Ahli early in the second half, making a comeback nearly impossible for the visitors. Al-Shabab's Musab Al-Juwayr managed to score a consolation goal in the 72nd minute and added another late in the game. However, their efforts fell short as the referee's final whistle secured Al-Ahli's triumph, denying Al-Shabab a dramatic comeback. With this win, Al-Ahli keeps their momentum in the league, while Al-Shabab faces further challenges as they aim to regain form.
