Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second goal as the Saudi Pro League champions defeated Uzbekistan’s Neftchi 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite in Riyadh on Monday, after a safety warning from Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence delayed kick-off by about an hour. The warning was issued 15 minutes before the scheduled start amid recent missile attacks on the Saudi capital from Yemen-based Houthis. The match eventually went ahead, with Al-Nassr securing a two-goal victory.
Al-Nassr claim a 3-1 win
Al-Nassr finished the match with three goals to Neftchi’s one, and Ronaldo was responsible for the Saudi side’s second. The result gave the Saudi Pro League champions a win in their AFC Champions League Elite meeting with the Uzbek club. The scoreline and Ronaldo’s contribution were reported by Ratopati.
The available match details identify Ronaldo as the scorer of Al-Nassr’s second goal, but do not specify the scorers of the other goals or provide a minute-by-minute account. What is clear is that Al-Nassr built a 3-1 result against Neftchi despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the start. The final score gave the Riyadh side a victory in a fixture that had been held up by the safety alert.
Safety warning delays scheduled kick-off
The match was due to begin at its scheduled time, but the start was postponed after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety warning 15 minutes beforehand. The delay lasted about an hour. The warning came against the backdrop of recent missile attacks on Riyadh from Yemen-based Houthis, placing the delay in a wider security context beyond the football match itself.
The timing of the alert meant the postponement was announced shortly before kick-off rather than earlier in the day. The match therefore began around an hour later than planned. The supplied information does not detail the contents of the Civil Defence warning, what specific safety measures were taken, or how the delay was communicated to those attending or following the game. It confirms that the fixture proceeded after the pause and ended with an Al-Nassr win.
A match played amid regional security concerns
The fixture brought together Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League champions, and Neftchi of Uzbekistan in the AFC Champions League Elite. Its sporting outcome was a 3-1 win for the Riyadh club, with Ronaldo’s goal accounting for Al-Nassr’s second. The delay, however, added a significant off-field development to the match, as the start was affected by an official warning issued amid reported missile attacks on the capital.
The circumstances underline the contrast between the planned football schedule and the immediate safety considerations raised by the alert. The warning came shortly before the match was set to begin, and the resulting delay pushed the start back by about an hour. No further details were provided about the security situation during the match or any subsequent changes to the schedule. The confirmed outcome remains a 3-1 Al-Nassr victory over Neftchi, with Ronaldo on the scoresheet.
