Ivan Toney’s penalty technique was back in the spotlight on Friday evening, and the Al-Ahli striker responded in the best possible way: by scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Al-Khaleej, including a stoppage-time penalty taken with a rapid run-up that left the goalkeeper flat-footed.
The 30-year-old has made a habit of turning penalties into theatre, but this one stood out even by his standards. The Saudi Arabian broadcast even missed part of the quick routine, underlining just how fast the strike came after Toney began his approach.
The penalty that became the talking point
Toney is known for his unusual no-look penalty method, in which he watches the goalkeeper throughout the run-up rather than the ball. That detail has long been part of the discussion around him, and it was on show again here as Marwan Al-Haidari was caught out by the sudden tempo.
Supporters online were quick to react, with one describing it as the strangest penalty technique they had ever seen. Another said the keeper would have been convinced he knew what Toney was about to do, only for the striker to do something different entirely. A third view summed it up neatly: the penalty technique was enough to surprise everyone, even the cameraman.
Why Toney keeps drawing attention
This is not a new story for Toney. In 2023, Thomas Frank called him the best penalty taker in the world after Brentford’s 3-2 victory over Fulham, praising his strategy, the fact he trains for it and his tremendous calmness. Jamie Carragher later agreed that the technique was special.
That reputation has travelled with him to Saudi Arabia, where he has now scored 13 times in nine league matches. Friday’s double only strengthens the sense that, whatever the method, Toney remains one of the most reliable finishers from the spot and around the box.
The real question now is not whether the technique works. It clearly does. The question is how long defenders and goalkeepers can keep guessing before he punishes them again.
