Al-Nassr match delayed by Riyadh alert, status disputed

Al-Nassr defeated Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in an AFC Champions League Elite match delayed by a security alert in Riyadh, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for the Saudi club. Reports differed on whether the fixture was completed that night or postponed, leaving its status disputed in the supplied accounts. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued an alert before kickoff, and spectators remained inside Al-Awwal Park while teams waited. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh on Monday. Civil Defense later said the danger had passed, according to reports describing the match as having gone ahead after about an hour’s delay. In those accounts, Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. Ronaldo added a second shortly before halftime, and Neftchi’s Alisher Odilov reduced the deficit six minutes into the second half. An own goal by Anvarjou Gofurov in the 78th minute restored Al-Nassr’s two-goal lead. The win was reported as Al-Nassr’s first in the competition after an opening defeat to Al Ain.