Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a decisive performance as the Saudi club secured a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite, despite heightened security concerns in Riyadh.The match at Al-Awwal Park was delayed by nearly an hour amid reports that multiple ballistic missiles launched by Houthi rebels had been intercepted and destroyed in the skies over Riyadh. Loud explosions and security alerts had raised concerns in the Saudi capital, but the tense situation appeared to have little impact on Al Nassr’s performance.Al Nassr took the lead in the 30th minute through a fine finish from Angelo Gabriel. Ronaldo doubled the advantage in the 42nd minute, taking his tally to 981 goals in his professional career.The 41-year-old Portuguese forward has now scored 134 goals for Al Nassr since joining the club in January 2023. Neftchi Fergana, six-time champions of Uzbekistan’s top-flight football league, attempted to fight back after the break. They pulled a goal back in the 51st minute, raising hopes of a comeback, but an own goal in the 78th minute restored Al Nassr’s two-goal cushion and sealed the 3-1 victory.The result provided relief for Al Nassr and their new coach, Ange Postecoglou, after the Saudi side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Al Ain in their opening match of the tournament.Ronaldo also caught the attention of supporters with a gesture after the win. While seated on the bench, he was seen kissing the Saudi national emblem on his Al Nassr shirt. He also raised a Saudi Arabian scarf towards the spectators in the stands. The victory offers Al Nassr an opportunity to regain momentum in Asia’s premier club competition after a disappointing start, with Ronaldo once again playing a key role on the pitch.
সহজ ও দ্রুত খবরের আপডেট পেতে আমাদের অ্যাপটি ইন্সটল করুন।
