Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Al Nassr beat Neftchi Fergana in delayed AFC Champions League Elite tie

Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Al Nassr secured their first AFC Champions League Elite victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Neftchi Fergana.

The match in Riyadh began an hour later than scheduled, at 22:15 rather than 21:15, after sirens sounded amid security concerns.

Al Nassr responded to their surprise 4-0 defeat by Al Ain in the opening round of the league phase with a confident home performance.

Angelo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute before Ronaldo doubled the advantage seven minutes before half-time.

The goal took the Portugal forward’s career tally to 981 for club and country.

Neftchi Fergana reduced the deficit through Aldshir Odilov in the 51st minute, but their prospects of completing a comeback were weakened when Akromzhon Aliboev was sent off in the 65th minute.

Al Nassr restored their two-goal lead in the 78th minute when Anvarjon Gofurov scored an own goal, securing the Saudi club’s first continental victory of the season.

The result leaves Al Nassr on three points in seventh place, level with Neftchi Fergana.

Ronaldo marked the win after the final whistle by wearing a Saudi scarf during the celebrations.

Al Nassr’s next fixture is against Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates on 26 October. Neftchi Fergana will host Saudi side Al-Ittihad.