Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st professional career goal as Al Nassr defeated Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3–1 in the AFC Champions League Elite, despite security concerns in Saudi Arabia’s capital forcing a one-hour delay to the match.
The fixture at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh was postponed amid reports of ballistic missile launches towards the city. A Saudi-led military coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed several ballistic missiles heading towards Riyadh. Saudi civil defence authorities subsequently issued a security alert, raising concerns about the safety of the event.
At least three loud explosions were reportedly heard in Riyadh that night. A small number of spectators had already taken their seats inside the stadium, while players from both teams waited for the situation to be clarified. The television broadcaster announced the one-hour delay just 15 minutes before the scheduled kick-off.
Play eventually began after an announcement over the stadium’s public-address system indicated that the situation was safe. Despite the tense atmosphere, Al Nassr remained focused and delivered a strong performance to secure three valuable points in Asia’s premier club competition.
Angel Gabriel opened the scoring for the Saudi side in the 30th minute, giving the hosts an early advantage. Ronaldo then doubled their lead in the 42nd minute, shortly before half-time.
The goal took the Portuguese forward’s professional career tally to 981. Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, he has scored 134 goals for the club, maintaining his importance to the team at the age of 41.
Neftchi Fergana attempted to fight back after the interval and reduced the deficit in the 51st minute. The Uzbek side, described in the report as six-time domestic champions, looked to build on that goal and put pressure on the hosts.
However, their hopes of mounting a comeback suffered a setback in the 78th minute when they conceded an own goal. The incident restored Al Nassr’s two-goal advantage, and the Saudi club held on to claim a 3–1 victory.
The result was particularly significant following Al Nassr’s disappointing start to the competition. On 15 September, the club had suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat against Al Ain in their opening fixture. The victory over Neftchi marked Al Nassr’s first win in the AFC Champions League Elite campaign and provided a timely boost for the team.
Off-field Controversy Surrounds Ronaldo
The victory came amid separate developments involving Ronaldo and Portugal’s national team.
Following the defeat against Al Ain, the 41-year-old forward reportedly became involved in a disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and left the national team camp during preparations for the UEFA Nations League before returning to Al Nassr.
Ronaldo subsequently apologised to his team-mates and supporters, acknowledging his mistake. The episode attracted attention beyond the pitch, given his prominent role in Portuguese football.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed on Saturday that disciplinary proceedings concerning Ronaldo had been initiated and referred to a committee for investigation. The report did not provide further details about the allegations or the possible outcome of the investigation.
Despite the off-field controversy and the security concerns surrounding the fixture, Ronaldo delivered an important contribution for Al Nassr. His goal helped the club recover from their opening defeat and collect three valuable points.
For Al Nassr, the immediate priority will be to build on this result and maintain consistency in the remaining fixtures. Ronaldo’s scoring form is likely to remain a key factor as the Saudi side seek to strengthen their position in the continental competition.
