Al-Ahli closed their Saudi Pro League campaign with a dominant 4-1 away victory over Al-Khaleej, highlighted by an influential display from Matheus Goncalves. The result capped a strong season, as Al-Ahli matched their best away-win record and set a new league scoring benchmark.
Although Al-Ahli fell short in the title chase, the club produced one of their most effective league seasons. This win took their 2025-26 away tally to 11 victories, equalling their highest total for road games in a single Saudi Pro League campaign.
Al-Ahli also extended a long unbeaten league sequence against Al-Khaleej, which now stands at eight wins and four draws. This is Al-Ahli’s longest undefeated run versus any Saudi Pro League opponent, and they have scored in each of those 12 meetings, underlining their consistency.
The club’s scoring streak against Al-Khaleej is part of a wider pattern. Al-Ahli have found the net in every Pro League clash with Al-Khaleej, with only their run versus AlHazem, spanning 16 games, producing a longer 100 per cent scoring record against one team in the competition.
Al-Ahli’s performance data in this fixture supported the scoreline. The visitors produced an expected goals value of 2.05 from 13 shots, including seven on target. Al-Khaleej managed nine attempts, generating an xG of 0.84, which reflected Al-Ahli’s superior attacking control.
Across the season, Al-Ahli’s forward play has been productive. The four goals here lifted their league total to 71 for 2025-26, surpassing the previous club high of 69 recorded in 2024-25. That improvement highlighted an attack that stayed effective deep into the campaign.
Al-Ahli Saudi Pro League win led by Matheus Goncalves against Al-Khaleej
Goncalves was the key figure in this contest. The midfielder created three chances, completed three successful dribbles and made 19 passes in the final third. Goncalves also had eight touches inside the Al-Khaleej box, the most by any Al-Ahli player on the pitch.
The deadlock broke after eight minutes from a rehearsed corner. A short delivery reached Ivan Toney, who laid the ball back for Rayan Hamed. Hamed’s low finish beat Anthony Moris despite a touch, with the goal confirmed following an extended offside check by VAR.
Al-Khaleej responded nine minutes later. Saleh Al Amri curled in an inviting cross from the right, and Giorgos Masouras arrived to steer the ball past Edouard Mendy. The equaliser briefly shifted momentum, but Al-Ahli soon regained control of the Saudi Pro League clash.
On 34 minutes, a quick free-kick caught Al-Khaleej unprepared. Saleh Abu Al Shamat slid a pass in behind the defensive line, allowing Feras Al Brikan to advance clear. Al Brikan kept composure and guided a calm shot into the net, restoring Al-Ahli’s advantage before half-time.
Five minutes after the interval, Al-Ahli moved further ahead in unusual fashion. Following a dribble from Goncalves, Al-Khaleej substitute Ali Al Salem attempted to clear a cross, but instead headed into the defender’s own goal, handing Al-Ahli a comfortable 3-1 cushion.
Toney and Goncalves then wasted major chances to extend the lead. Enzo Millot set up Goncalves with a precise pass, but the shot went straight at Moris. However, Goncalves still found a fourth goal 12 minutes from time, when a curling delivery evaded everyone and nestled inside the bottom-left corner.
The comfortable margin, the statistical edge and another influential showing from Goncalves ensured Al-Ahli ended 2025-26 on a positive note. The match underlined their strength away from home in the Saudi Pro League and reinforced a long-standing dominance over Al-Khaleej.
Story first published: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 2:05 [IST]
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