Tension gripped Riyadh as Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles toward the city, forcing security officials to issue urgent alerts. The volatile situation caused the Asian Champions League Elite match at Al-Awwal Park to be delayed by nearly an hour. However, the external unrest failed to deter Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who led his side to a decisive 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana.
Al-Nassr took control early, with Angelo Gabriel netting a brilliant opening goal in the 30th minute. Shortly before the interval, in the 42nd minute, the 41-year-old Portuguese superstar doubled the lead. This strike marked the 981st goal of his professional career and his 134th for Al-Nassr since joining the club in January 2023.
Neftchi Fergana, a six-time champion of the Uzbek league, attempted a second-half resurgence, pulling a goal back in the 51st minute to narrow the deficit. Their hopes were extinguished in the 78th minute when an own goal sealed the result. This win provides a significant boost for Al-Nassr and their new coach, Ange Postecoglou, following their opening 4-0 loss to Al-Ain.
Following the final whistle, Ronaldo’s gestures toward the fans captured significant attention. While resting on the bench, he was seen kissing the Saudi Arabian national emblem on his Al-Nassr jersey and holding a Saudi scarf aloft toward the spectators. Despite the security challenges surrounding the match, the victory successfully re-establishes Al-Nassr’s momentum in Asia’s premier club competition.
