Al-Ahli Stage Stunning Comeback to Hold Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League Thriller

Al-Ahli produced one of the most extraordinary comebacks in Saudi Pro League history on Friday night, fighting back from three goals down to claim a dramatic 3-3 draw against rivals Al-Hilal at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

What looked to be a routine victory for the visitors turned into a night of high drama as the hosts, inspired by a late surge, salvaged a point that sent the Jeddah crowd into raptures. For Al-Hilal, the result was a bitter disappointment, as victory would have seen them climb to the top of the league table. Instead, they remain seventh with five points from three matches, while Al-Ahli sit eighth on the same tally but with an inferior goal difference.

Al-Hilal started brightly and silenced the home support within 12 minutes. Theo Hernandez latched onto a sublime through ball from Malcom before rifling a shot into the roof of Edouard Mendy’s net. Things worsened for Al-Ahli in the 24th minute when Darwin Núñez surged into the penalty area and squared for Malcom, who finished with ease.

The Brazilian forward doubled his tally just before the break. A long ball from Kalidou Koulibaly found Salem Al-Dawsari, who unselfishly set up Malcom to fire home his second of the night. At 3-0 down by half-time, Al-Ahli looked dead and buried, with only near-misses from Roger Ibanez and Riyad Mahrez offering flickers of hope.

Manager Matthias Jaissle reshuffled his defence at the interval, bringing on Mohammed Abdulrahman, and the change sparked greater stability. Still, Al-Hilal continued to threaten, with Al-Dawsari striking the post after another fine move from Núñez.

The match turned on its head in the final quarter-hour. Ivan Toney ignited belief in the 78th minute, cleverly flicking Firas Al-Buraikan’s cross beyond Yassine Bounou to reduce the deficit. The English striker struck again nine minutes later, rising to meet Mahrez’s curling delivery and halving the gap.

With the atmosphere at fever pitch, Al-Ahli completed the comeback deep into stoppage time. Merih Demiral powered home a header from a Mahrez corner to send the home crowd into delirium. Though they pressed for a winner, the final whistle confirmed a share of the spoils in a game destined to be remembered as one of the league’s great contests.

Elsewhere in Friday’s action, Al-Qadsiah climbed to second place after edging Al-Khaleej 2-1 at home, while Al-Fayha and Al-Shabab played out a goalless draw.