Video: With Toney's hat-trick, Al-Ahli close in on Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the top of the Roshn League
Al-Ahli's flying start to the Roshn League goes on. They thrashed Abha 4-0 on Saturday evening in the second round, a match in which "the Elegant" imposed complete control and Ivan Toney shone with a hat-trick. The Englishman's three goals fired his side to another victory, lifting their tally to six points.
Two games, two wins. Al-Ahli edged Al-Diriyah 1-0 in the opening round, then returned to keep a second clean sheet.
Toni strikes Abha in 8 minutes
Al-Ahli came flying out of the blocks and needed just five minutes to break the deadlock. Armenian Edvard Sperstyan threaded a magical pass into the box, and Toney did the rest, turning it into the net to hand "Al-Raqi" an early lead. It was the start of a special night for the English striker.
The goal only sharpened Al-Ahli's appetite. They dominated every area of the pitch, kept the ball with ease and swarmed forward relentlessly, leaving Abha's defence rattled and unable to live with the hosts.
On 13 minutes, Al-Ahli won a penalty. Toney stepped up and slotted it home with calm assurance for his second, proving once again just how deadly he is from the spot. Abha, meanwhile, offered nothing going forward and had no answer to their opponent's superiority.
That grip never loosened before the break. Al-Ahli controlled the tempo and monopolised possession while Abha failed to muster a single threat on "Al-Raqi's" goal. The hosts went in two goals to the good after the opening 45 minutes.
Trincão adds the third: Toni completes the hat-trick
Al-Ahli picked up in the second half where they left off, and on 51 minutes Portugal's Francisco Trincao made it three. He unleashed a rocket that flew into the net, celebrating his first goal in the shirt of "the Elegant One".
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Trincao wasn't finished there. He turned provider moments later, threading a magical pass to Toni, who took it in his stride and slotted home Al-Ahli's fourth. That was Toni's third of the night, a hat-trick to cap off an exceptional performance.
The win lifted Al-Ahli to 6 points in the Roshn League, level with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq. "The Elegant One" have served notice they want in on the title race early, and the attacking firepower they showed against Abha suggests they mean it.
