Ronaldo scores 981st goal as Al Nassr win after missile delay
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Al Nassr beat Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in Riyadh on Monday. Kickoff was one hour late after a missile alert.
- Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal. He is now 19 goals from 1,000.
- The win was Al Nassr's first in this Asian Champions League Elite campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal on Monday night. His Al Nassr side beat Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in Riyadh. The match started one hour late after a missile alert in the Saudi capital.
The game was an AFC Champions League Elite tie. It took place at Al-Awwal Park. A sparse crowd stayed in their seats as the teams waited to play.
What happened
Kickoff was set for 9:15 pm local time. About 15 minutes before that time, Saudi Civil Defence issued a safety warning. Residents got phone alerts about a hostile aerial threat.
The alerts told people to stay away from windows and doors.
The Saudi-led coalition said it had stopped two ballistic missiles. The missiles were fired toward Riyadh by the Houthis. At least three blasts were heard in the city on Monday night.
The stadium announcer told fans the site was safe. He asked them to stay in their seats.
Play began one hour late. Al Nassr took charge fast. Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.
His shot took a deflection on its way in.
Ronaldo doubled the lead nine minutes later. Sadio Mane crossed from the left side. Aiman Yahya chested the ball into Ronaldo's path.
Ronaldo turned the ball home for his 981st career goal. It was also his 134th goal for Al Nassr since he joined in January 2023.
Neftchi hit back after the break. Alisher Odilov scored six minutes into the second half. The Uzbek side then lost a man.
Ikromjon Alibaev was sent off in the 65th minute for a foul on Mohamed Simakan. Anvarjon Gofurov scored an own goal 13 minutes later. That goal restored Al Nassr's two-goal lead.
The Saudi side saw out a 3-1 win from there.
Why it matters
The win was Al Nassr's first in this Asian campaign. They lost their opener 4-0 to Al Ain. That game was on September 15. The result puts their bid back on track.
It also came under Ange Postecoglou, the head coach named by ESPN.
For Ronaldo, the goal was one more step toward the 1,000 mark. He now needs 19 more goals to reach it. Few players in history have come this close.
His goal also settled a match played under rare strain. The delay, the alerts, and the blasts made it a strange night. The players still played a full game.
The night also followed a hard week in Saudi Arabia. Strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people over the weekend. More than 300 people were wounded, according to ESPN.
The airport stayed closed until Saturday. Monday's match showed that big events can still go ahead. It also showed the risks around them.
Ronaldo's week had its own strain. He left the Portugal camp during the last break. He had a row over playing time with coach Jorge Jesus.
He later said sorry to his team mates and fans. He asked the federation to punish him for his actions. The Portuguese Football Federation opened a case on Saturday.
It sent the case to its Disciplinary Investigation Commission.
What happens next
Al Nassr will aim to build on this win. Their next games in the Asian Champions League Elite will shape their group. One win does not fix a 4-0 opening loss.
But it is a start. The club will also watch Ronaldo's form. He is close to a huge landmark now.
The Portugal case is still open. The federation has not yet set a penalty. Its findings will stay private until the case ends.
Ronaldo has said that rules apply to all players. He has also said that actions must have costs. Fans will watch for the next step in that case.
Want the full build-up? Our preview of this fixture has the kickoff details and team news. For the wider European week, see our Champions League matchday 2 guide.
The win in Riyadh will be recalled for two facts. Ronaldo moved to 981 goals. And a football match went ahead after a missile alert delayed it by one hour.
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