Franck Kessie and Riyad Mahrez were on target for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday night but it was not enough for all three points as they lost 4-3 to Al Nassr.
Matthias Jaissle’s side were three points ahead of the Knights of Najd but it was the latter that was in better form and went ahead in the fourth minute when Senegal’s Sadio Mane fed Cristiano Ronaldo to finish off with ease in front of a smoke-filled post.
Franck Kessie gets Al Ahli back in the game ????#yallaRSL #RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/h1ZTK1nto7
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 22, 2023
Al Nassr were 2-0 up 13 minutes later thanks to Anderson Talisca. Al Ahli pulled one back in the 30th minute after Mohammed Al Majhad fed Kessie with a brilliant pass to allow the Ivory Coast midfielder finish off with aplomb. Al Nassr however responded back in added time of the first half with Talisca popping up again for his brace.
Mahrez helped Al Ahli reduce the deficit to 3-2 by scoring fron the penalty spot in the 50 minute but Al Nassr responded once again, Talisca assisting Ronaldo to allow the Portuguese superstar complete his brace.
⚽ @Mahrez22 is back among the goals in the RSL ????????#yallaRSL #RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/Ug2dbfBJsh
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 22, 2023
Substitute Feras Al Bekran helped Al Ahli lower the deficit with three minutes left on the clock but it was too little too late.
The result moves Al Nassr above Al Ahli to fifth on the Saudi Pro League log with both sides level on 15 points after seven games.
It leaves them just three points shy of current leaders and defending champions Al-Ittihad who defeated Al Fateh 2-1 on Thursday night.
In another result, Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo scored in back-to-back games as Al Wehda recorded a resounding 4-0 win over Abha FC. It was the former Al Hilal man’s fifth goal of the season having scored a hat-trick against Damac FC in the previous game.
FT: Al Wehda 4-0 Abha
A commanding win for the hosts, with Odion Ighalo on the scoresheet again! ???? #yallaRSL #RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/rNFmrJPcHQ
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 22, 2023
The result moved Al Wehda up to seventh and are just three points behind Al Nassr and Al Ahli.
