Riyad Mahrez scores first Saudi Pro League goal as Al Ahli move top of the table

A 3-1 win over Al Khaleej makes it two wins from two for the Jeddah club at start of new season

Sumayhan Al Nabit celebrates with teammates after scoring Al Ahli's third goal against Al Khaleej at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on August 17, 2023, in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Getty

Al Khaleej's Jung Woo-Young attempts to tackle Al Ahli forward Riyad Mahrez. Getty

Sumayhan Al Nabit shoots to score Al Ahli's third goal against Al Khaleej. Getty

Sumayhan Al Nabit celebrates after scoring for Al Ahli against Al-Khaleej. Getty

Sumayhan Al Nabit celebrates scoring Al Ahli's third goal against Al Khaleej. Getty

Sumayhan Al Nabit celebrates after scoring during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al Khaleej and Al Ahli. Getty

DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA - AUGUST 17: Manager coach Matthias Jaissle from Al-Ahli Club celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Khaleej and Al-Ahli at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on August 17, 2023 in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz / Getty Images)

Al Khaleej forward Ivo Rodrigues fights for the ball with Al Ahli midfielder Ziyad Al Johani. Getty

Al Ahli fans support the team inside the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium. Getty

Al Khaleej defender Omar Al Owdah skips a challenge from Al Ahli winger Allan Saint-Maximin. Getty

Al Ahli players celebrate with the fans inside Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium. Getty

Riyad Mahrez scored his first goal for Al Ahli on Thursday night as the Jeddah club eased past Al Khaleej 3-1 to move to the top of the Saudi Pro League table.

Mahrez, a €35 million ($38m) signing from Manchester City this summer, doubled Ahli's lead on the stroke of half time at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium after Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez had opened the scoring in the ninth minute.

Khaleej, who marginally avoided relegation last season, struck back to halve the deficit 13 minutes into the second half through forward Mansour Hamzi. But Ahli ensured all three points deep in injury time when former Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin set up Sumayhan Al Nabit to score in the 101st minute.

The victory moves Ahli top of the standings after their second successive 3-1 victory having beaten Al Hazem by the same score last Friday, when Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick on debut.

In Thursday's other match, Damac secured a dramatic 2-2 draw with Al Riyadh, who had taken a 2-0 lead through a Saleh Al Abbas double, only for Abdullah Al Ammar to hit back with a brace of his own, scoring his equalising second in the 10th minute of injury time.

Check out the photos from Al Ahli's victory in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.