Al-Ettifaq suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat on Wednesday night as they were unable to contain a rampant Al-Ahli side at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. The hosts, led by a masterclass from England international Ivan Toney, maintained their blistering form to secure their eighth consecutive victory. For the visitors, it was a night of defensive frustration as they struggled to deal with Al-Ahli’s high-pressing system and clinical finishing in the final third.
Match recap
The match was an exhibition of offensive efficiency from the Jeddah giants. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Riyad Mahrez unselfishly squared the ball for Ivan Toney to tap home. The lead was doubled just ten minutes later; after Galeno was brought down in the box, Toney stepped up to clinically convert his first penalty of the afternoon.
Despite a more compact defensive effort to start the second half, Al-Ettifaq found themselves further behind in the 64th minute. Toney turned provider this time, showing his strength to hold off two defenders before finding Valentin Atangana, who struck a powerful effort from distance. The rout was completed in the 84th minute when Al-Ahli was awarded a second penalty, which Toney again converted to seal his hat-trick and a comprehensive three points.
Calvo’s performance
The former Minnesota United captain, Francisco Calvo, endured a difficult evening at the heart of the Al-Ettifaq defense, playing the full 90 minutes in a match where the backline was under constant siege.
- Defensive workload: Calvo was tasked with managing the movement of both Toney and Mahrez. While he recorded a team-high in clearances, he struggled with the physical nature of Al-Ahli’s transitions, which often left the Al-Ettifaq defense stretched and exposed.
- The penalty incident: In the 83rd minute, Calvo was involved in the match’s final defining moment. Attempting to recover after a quick Al-Ahli break, he was judged to have “carelessly tripped” Mohammed Abdulrahman inside the penalty area. The resulting spot-kick allowed Toney to complete his hat-trick and put the result beyond any doubt.
- Leadership under fire: Despite the lopsided scoreline, Calvo remained a vocal presence, organizing his backline through a second half that saw Al-Ahli register 12 shots on target.
Stats
- Minutes played: 90′
- Clearances: 6
- Tackles won: 2
- Pass accuracy: 82%
- Fouls conceded: 2 (1 penalty)
Up next
Al-Ettifaq will look to regroup as they host Al-Hazem on Monday, Feb. 2. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli travels to face Al-Khaleej on Tuesday, Feb. 3, as they look to extend their winning streak to nine matches.
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