Cristiano Ronaldo Scores 981st Goal Of Career After Missile Strike Delays Asian Champions League Match

Last Updated:October 13, 2026, 08:51 IST

Al Nassr’s Asian Champions League match against Neftchi Fergana was delayed by an hour after a missile fired towards Riyadh was intercepted.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in Al Nassr’s 3-1 win. (AP Photo)

A missile alert in Riyadh disrupted the build-up to Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest outing for Al Nassr on Monday, forcing their Asian Champions League clash with Neftchi Fergana to be pushed back by an hour.

The match eventually went ahead, with Ronaldo finding the net as his side claimed a 3-1 victory.

The delay came after Saudi Arabia’s military coalition reported intercepting a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh by the Houthis, an Iran-backed group that has carried out a series of attacks in the country in recent times.

Oil installations, tankers and transport infrastructure have been among the targets of these attacks, while Riyadh’s international airport has also suffered a series of deadly strikes.

At Al-Awal Park, the match had been scheduled to begin at 9:15 pm local time (1815 GMT). Only a sparse crowd had gathered in the stands when concerns over the security situation emerged.

Spectators were initially told by the stadium announcer that it was safe to proceed and that the match would take place as planned. Fans were asked to stay in their seats.

The broadcaster covering the fixture later announced that kick-off would be postponed by one hour.

The uncertainty coincided with reports of explosions heard across the Saudi capital by news agency AFP correspondents.

Residents also received emergency notifications on their phones warning of an aerial threat and advising them to remain calm, seek shelter at home or in another safe location, keep clear of windows and doors, and follow civil defence instructions.

The coalition subsequently confirmed the missile interception in a statement posted on X, describing the operation as the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis.

The disruption, however, did little to derail Al Nassr on the pitch.

Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal just before the interval with the Saudi champions winning comfortably.

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Why was Cristiano Ronaldo’s Asian Champions League match delayed in Riyadh?

The Asian Champions League match between Al Nassr and Neftchi Fergana at Al-Awal Park was delayed by an hour following a missile alert in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s military coalition intercepted a ballistic missile launched toward the capital by the Houthis, prompting security precautions and emergency notifications for residents.

What milestone did Cristiano Ronaldo reach during Al Nassr’s match against Neftchi Fergana?

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 981st career goal of his professional football career just before halftime, helping Al Nassr secure a comfortable 3-1 victory after the match resumed.

How did fans and spectators at Al-Awal Park react to the security threat in Riyadh?

Spectators at Al-Awal Park were initially advised by the stadium announcer that it was safe and that the match would proceed as planned, with fans instructed to stay in their seats. Meanwhile, residents across Riyadh received emergency mobile alerts warning of an aerial threat and advising them to seek safe shelter.

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Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More

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