Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr beat Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in an AFC Champions League match in Riyadh on Monday, but the game was delayed by an hour after a missile alert in the Saudi capital.
Kick-off was pushed back after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety warning just 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Riyadh has been the target of missiles fired from Yemen-based Houthis. Following attacks on the city’s airport, explosions were heard in the capital on Monday night, and the Saudi-led military coalition said a ballistic missile had been intercepted and destroyed.
Once the match got under way, Ange Postecoglou’s Al-Nassr went ahead through Angelo in the 33rd minute, with Ronaldo doubling their lead before half-time. Neftchi, the Uzbekistan champions, pulled a goal back, but they were reduced to 10 men after 65 minutes. An own goal 13 minutes later sealed a first Group B victory for the hosts.
The goal continued Ronaldo’s return to club football. He also scored on Friday after leaving the Portugal national team camp halfway through the Nations League break out of frustration at limited playing opportunities. His goal on Monday was the 981st of his career, leaving him closing on a milestone 1,000.
The regional conflict could affect future sporting events, including Formula 1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. F1 is pressing ahead with plans to run both events. The Qatar and Abu Dhabi governments say there is no reason for F1 not to go, there have been no attacks on civilian infrastructure since the spring, and the countries are operating on a business-as-usual basis. The UK Foreign Office is not advising against travel, but has warned of ‘a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation in the region’ and said British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures and potential travel disruption.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said on Sunday: ‘Whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi happens at the moment, everybody says so, and so we need to go the direction of this is six more races to go.’ If there is an escalation in the Middle East, for example after the US mid-term elections on 3 November, and the races have to be cancelled at late notice, Imola in Italy is being prepared as a back-up option for the weekend of Abu Dhabi.