Al Ahli delivered their most convincing performance of the season on Friday, thrashing Al Riyadh 5-0 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium to lift themselves to fifth in the Saudi Pro League with nine points from five games. The result brought genuine relief after back-to-back heavy defeats to Al Kholood and Al Hilal had left the club under real pressure, and Ivan Toney led the charge with two penalties to take his league tally to six goals, making him the division's top scorer by some distance.

The win matters beyond the three points. It arrived in the middle of a deeply turbulent week for the club off the pitch. Sporting director Roy Pedro Baraz was dismissed after sustained fan pressure over his transfer decisions, including the departure of experienced midfielder Franck Kessie and deals supporters considered below the required standard. The club confirmed his exit by mutual consent and appointed Osama Housawi as interim replacement. Journalist Sacha Tavolieri also reported serious fraud allegations connected to the Artem Bondarenko transfer, claims the club pushed back on publicly. With the summer window closing, Al Ahli were still in negotiations over a potential deal for Alfa Toure of Metz, as reported by GOAL, while a move for Monaco teenager Babi Cabral drew a cool reception from fans who wanted a more experienced replacement for Kessie.

Coach Marino Bositic also generated controversy at his pre-match press conference, dismissing the significance of Al Hilal's recent form and clashing with a journalist in an exchange that drew widespread attention. The 5-0 win eased some of that noise, but the squad now travels to Al Qadsiah on September 8 knowing that consistency, not just one big result, is what the title challenge demands.