Ronaldo on target as Al-Nassr win after security delay
RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second goal as the Saudi Pro League champions overcame an hour-long security delay to beat Uzbekistan’s Neftchi 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.
Kick-off was delayed after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety warning 15 minutes before the scheduled start time in Riyadh, which has been targeted by missiles fired from Yemen-based Houthis in recent days.
Ange Postecoglou’s side shook off the interruption to go in front through Angelo in the 33rd minute with a deflected strike before Ronaldo doubled the lead nine minutes later.
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, and the Portuguese forward lashed the ball into the bottom corner with a shot on the turn.
Alisher Odilov pulled one back for Neftchi six minutes into the second half, but Ikromjon Alibaev’s red card for a foul on Mohamed Simakan in the 65th minute and an own goal by Anvarjon Gofurov 13 minutes later sealed the win for Al-Nassr.
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.
Roger Ibanez put Al-Ahli ahead with a 20th-minute header but Pedro Malheiro levelled in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Goals from Trincao and Feras Al-Brikan in the 58th and 91st minutes, respectively, moved Al-Ahli onto four points from their opening two matches.
“We created also in the first half, but in the second half we made our goals, and I think that was the difference,” said Trincao. “Physically we were a little bit better, and that was the key to changing the game.”
Houssine Rahimi scored twice as Al-Ain defeated Air Force Club 4-1 in Basra, while Hossein Goudarzi’s 60th minute goal earned Iran’s Esteghlal a 2-1 win over Al-Gharafa.
A last-minute penalty from Dostonbek Khamdamov salvaged a 1-1 draw for Pakhtakor against Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah in Tashkent, while Tractor from Iran were held to a 0-0 draw by Qatar’s Al-Shamal.
KASHIMA ANTLERS REMAIN PERFECT
On Tuesday, Kashima Antlers earned a 1-0 win over Vietnamese hosts Cong An Ha Noi thanks to an own goal to move top of the table in the eastern league phase.
Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh’s own goal in the 61st minute kept the J-League champions perfect after Toru Oniki’s side started their campaign by thrashing Newcastle Jets last month.
Kashima lead compatriots Gamba Osaka, who also secured a second win in a row when Tomokazu Myojin’s team came back from a goal behind to win 3-1 against Newcastle in Australia.
Meanwhile, Fabio Abreu’s 79th minute header earned Beijing Guoan a 1-0 win over hosts Buriram United in Thailand as the Chinese Super League outfit also secured their second successive victory.
Elsewhere, Marcos Guilherme scored twice as Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim took advantage of Pohang Steelers midfielder Jeon Min-gwang’s sending off just before the break to win 2-0.
The first eight finishers in the 16-team league phase in both east and west Asia will advance to the knockout rounds of the competition, with the tournament’s quarter-finals, semi-finals and final to be played in Saudi Arabia next April.
Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026
