Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated with a Saudi scarf after scoring in Al-Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Neftchi in the AFC Champions League Elite. The match at Al-Awwal Park took place against a tense backdrop, as a security warning prompted a one-hour delay to kick-off in Riyadh.
The disruption occurred just 15 minutes before the scheduled start when Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety alert via mobile phones. This followed multiple intercepted ballistic missile launches by Houthi rebels from Yemen aimed at the Saudi capital on Monday. Authorities confirmed that the coalition fighting in Yemen intercepted the projectiles, though residents reported hearing several loud explosions across the city.
Houthi forces, operating from areas including Sanaa, stated that King Khalid International Airport was their intended target. The region remains on high alert following recent strikes that have resulted in at least 14 fatalities over the preceding days, including an attack on Saturday that hit the airport and caused significant casualties. The crowd remained in their seats as the teams waited in their dressing rooms. The renewed attacks came as King Khalid airport in Riyadh remains closed after a Houthi attack on Saturday that killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300. Another strike on Sunday killed one person and wounded 11.
Once the Civil Defence determined the immediate danger had passed, the match proceeded. Angelo broke the deadlock for Ange Postecoglou’s side in the 33rd minute with a deflected strike. Nine minutes later, Ronaldo doubled the lead, firing into the bottom corner after controlling a cross from Sadio Mane that was directed into his path by Aiman Yahya. And the Portuguese forward lashed the ball into the bottom corner with a shot on the turn, the 41-year-old struck after Sadio Mane delivered a looping cross from the left that Aiman Yahya directed into Ronaldo’s path with his chest.
Although Alisher Odilov reduced the deficit for Neftchi shortly after halftime, a red card for Ikromjon Alibaev in the 65th minute followed by an own goal from Anvarjon Gofurov ensured the win for Al-Nassr. Following the whistle, Ronaldo walked through the stadium, where he received a green Saudi scarf from a supporter, which he waved and draped around his neck to acknowledge the home crowd.
In other AFC Champions League action, defending champions Al-Ahli secured a 3-1 win over UAE’s Al-Wasl. Roger Ibanez opened the scoring with a 20th-minute header before Pedro Malheiro equalized. Second-half goals from Trincao and Feras Al-Brikan eventually moved Al-Ahli to four points from two matches. Trincao noted that physical improvements in the second half were decisive in shifting the momentum of the game. Meanwhile, defending champions Al-Ahli scored twice in the second half to pick up their first win of the new campaign as Marino Pusic’s side beat Al-Wasl from the United Arab Emirates 3-1. According to “We created also in the first half, but in the second half we made our goals, and I think that was the difference,”, Trincao. “Physically we were a little bit better, and that was the key to changing the game.”.
Elsewhere, Houssine Rahimi netted twice in Al-Ain’s 4-1 victory against Air Force Club in Basra, and Hossein Goudarzi’s 60th-minute goal gave Iran’s Esteghlal a 2-1 win over Al-Gharafa. Meanwhile, Pakhtakor drew 1-1 with Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah after a last-minute penalty from Dostonbek Khamdamov, and Tractor were held to a goalless draw by Al-Shamal. While Tractor from Iran were held to a 0-0 draw by Qatar’s Al-Shamal, a last-minute penalty from Dostonbek Khamdamov salvaged a 1-1 draw for Pakhtakor against Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah in Tashkent.
The competition’s current format features a 16-team league phase for both East and West Asia, with the top eight finishers from each region advancing to the knockout stages.
