In a tightly contested Saudi Professional League encounter at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Al-Ahli SFC edged past Al Taawoun with a 2–1 victory on May 12, 2026. The result underlined Al-Ahli’s resilience as they pushed for a higher finish in the standings, while Al Taawoun were left to rue missed chances in a match that swung dramatically in the second half.

First‑half stalemate gives way to explosive finish

The opening 45 minutes were a study in defensive discipline. Both sides cancelled each other out in midfield, with Al Taawoun’s compact shape frustrating Al-Ahli’s attacking trio. The home side had the better of the early exchanges – a dipping long‑range effort from captain Mostafa Fathy was tipped over by Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. However, clear‑cut opportunities were rare, and the teams went into the break locked at 0–0.

Al-Ahli came out with renewed purpose after the interval. In the 53rd minute, a swift counter‑attack caught Al Taawoun off guard. Riyad Mahrez slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Franck Kessié, who smashed a first‑time shot into the bottom corner. The visitors had their lead, but it was short‑lived. Just eight minutes later, Al Taawoun’s Brazilian forward, Mateus, rose highest to meet a corner and planted a header past Mendy to level the scores.

Riyad Mahrez provides the decisive moment

With the game finely balanced, the individual brilliance of Al-Ahli’s Algerian superstar decided the outcome. In the 73rd minute, Mahrez collected the ball on the right flank, cut inside onto his left foot, and curled a sublime strike into the far corner from 20 yards. It was a goal of genuine quality – unsaveable and a reminder of the Premier League‑winning pedigree he brings to the Saudi league.

Al Taawoun pushed forward in the closing stages, creating half‑chances through substitutes but failing to test Mendy again. Al-Ahli’s defence, marshalled by veteran Roger Ibañez, held firm to secure all three points.

Impact on the Saudi Professional League standings

The win moved Al-Ahli into the top four, keeping their AFC Champions League qualification hopes alive. For Al Taawoun, the defeat was a setback in their mid‑table campaign, leaving them nine points adrift of the continental spots with five games remaining. The result also extended Al-Ahli’s unbeaten run against Al Taawoun to four matches.

Key Stats:

• Possession: Al Taawoun 48% – 52% Al-Ahli
• Shots on target: Al Taawoun 3 – 5 Al-Ahli
• Man of the match: Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) – 1 goal, 1 assist