Awkward moment Riyad Mahrez ruins chance for Ivan Toney to add to incredible penalty record
09/17/2024 07:23 AM
Ivan Toney was given the perfect opportunity to open his Al Ahli account – only for teammate Riyad Mahrez to deny him the chance from 12 yards.
The Brentford striker was competing in his second game for the Saudi Pro League side since joining from Brentford in a deal worth £40million.
After drawing a blank on his debut against Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr last week, Toney would have seen his name in lights during Monday night’s 1-0 victory over Persepolis in the AFC Champions League.
Al Ahli were given a penalty just before the hour mark, where Toney would have been hoping to be given the chance to double his side’s lead.
Toney boasts a fantastic record from the spot – scoring 30 out of the 32 he’s taken – excluding his cool finish from England‘s Euro 2024 quarter-final penalty shootout victory against Switzerland this summer.
Incredibly, the 28-year-old has missed just once from 12 yards out since October 2018, but former Manchester City star Mahrez refused to let him have it.
Mahrez has been Al Ahli‘s regular penalty taker since he swapped the Etihad for the Middle East last year.
However for the 11th time in his career, the Algeria international failed to find the back of the net from the spot.
The former Leicester forward had his shot well saved by goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz, who parried away his attempt before it could nestle into the bottom right corner.
Prior to the penalty, the five-time Premier League winner had scored from each of his four spot-kicks for Al Ahli.
Thankfully for Mahrez, his miss didn’t prove decisive as Al Ahli held on for the win against their Iranian opponents in the league stage of the competition.
But football fans were left shocked that Toney failed to take it, as one X user posted: “Riyad Mahrez, taking penalties over Ivan Toney?”
Another messaged: “Imagine buying the best penalty taker on the planet and letting Riyad Mahrez take the pen and miss.”
A third added: “Ivan got a penalty. Mahrez wanted to take that penalty, Toney asked him to take it. Mahrez took it. Mahrez didn't score.
“Let the damn boy score his first goal with the club man.”
This fan then stated: “Riyad Mahrez just missed a pen for Al Ahli while Ivan Toney is on the pitch, Ivan could never.”
Toney will now have to wait until Friday night’s Saudi Pro League clash with Damac to try and score his first Ah Ahli goal.
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