Ronaldo Scores His 981st as Al-Nassr Beat Neftchi Fergana 3-1 After Riyadh Security Alert
Football rarely starts an hour late because of missile alerts. On Monday night in Riyadh, that is exactly what happened. Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana was held back while Saudi Civil Defense dealt with a security alert, and a small crowd at Al-Awwal Park simply stayed in their seats and waited. When the ball finally rolled, Al-Nassr won 3-1, and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 981st goal of his career.
It was not a perfect performance. But after a rough start to the tournament, the win was badly needed.
What Caused the Delay in Riyadh
The fixture was played on Monday, October 12, 2026. Before kickoff, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense sent alerts to residents’ phones, and stadium announcers asked fans to stay calm and remain in their seats. The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi rebels toward Riyadh, and explosions were heard across the city that night.
Civil Defense later said the danger had passed, and the match went ahead roughly one hour behind schedule. Some outlets reported the delay as shorter at first, but the widely reported figure from AP and AFP is one hour. Neither team had taken the field for warm-ups while the alert was active.
This was not an isolated moment. Only a couple of days earlier, Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport had reportedly killed at least 13 people. Against that background, the decision to play at all was a serious one, and it is fair to say the mood around the game was far from normal.
A Slow Start, Then Angelo Breaks Through
The first half was not especially lively. Al-Nassr had more of the ball, but the rhythm was low. Kingsley Coman went off injured around the quarter-hour mark and was replaced by Ayman Yahya, which disrupted things further.
Then, around the 33rd minute, Brazilian forward Angelo put the home side ahead. It was a long-awaited breakthrough for a team that had gone into the night with no points from their opening result, a heavy 4-0 loss to Al Ain.
Ronaldo’s Goal Just Before the Break
Three minutes before halftime, Ronaldo made it 2-0. Sadio Mane crossed from the left, Ayman Yahya cushioned it with his chest, and Ronaldo turned and finished first time. It was his 981st career goal.
He had also tested the Neftchi wall with a free kick earlier in the half. That one did not go in, but it showed he was hunting the game from the start.
The Second Half Got Uncomfortable
Honestly, this is where Al-Nassr made life hard for themselves. They came out flat after the interval, and Neftchi pushed them back. Marcus Forss thought he had pulled one back, but the goal was ruled out because of an offside teammate interfering with play. Alisher Odilov did score soon after, making it 2-1, and Inigo Martinez was seen visibly frustrated on the touchline.
The game turned in Al-Nassr’s favor when Neftchi’s Alibaev was sent off in the 65th minute for a hard challenge on Simakan. With the visitors a man down, Al-Nassr settled. Late on, around the 78th minute, an own goal from Anvarjon Gofurov sealed it at 3-1.
So the scoreline looks comfortable, but the performance was mixed. A fair summary: good finishing, a convenient red card, and plenty to fix.
Why This Win Matters in the Standings
The result gave Al-Nassr their first points in the league phase of this season’s AFC Champions League Elite. They now sit level with Neftchi Fergana, who had won their opening match. Going from a 4-0 defeat to a win in a matter of days is exactly the kind of reset a campaign like this needs.
Joao Felix and Samu Costa also started for Al-Nassr, alongside Ronaldo and Mane, which gives a sense of how much quality the squad has. The task now is turning that quality into steadier 90-minute football.
Ronaldo at 981
Whatever you think of the match, the milestone stands out. Ronaldo keeps scoring in different leagues, different competitions, and now in unusual circumstances. The goal came from a clean turn and a sharp finish, the kind of moment that has defined his career for two decades.
The 1,000-goal mark is still a talking point among fans, and every goal like this one keeps that conversation alive.
A Quiet Stadium and a Strange Night
The crowd at Al-Awwal Park was described as sparse, which is understandable given the alert. Those who stayed saw a hard-fought win, and most would agree the football was secondary to the atmosphere of the evening.
Final Thoughts
This match will be remembered for two things: a one-hour delay that no club or league ever plans for, and a Ronaldo goal that took him to 981. Al-Nassr got the points they needed, but the second half showed there is work to do. For now, the team can breathe. For the people of Riyadh, the hope is simply for calmer days ahead.
