Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo attracted attention after waving a Saudi-flag scarf following Al-Nassr’s victory in the AFC Champions League Elite. The celebration came after a security alert in Riyadh delayed the match by approximately one hour.
Al-Nassr defeated Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3–1 at Al-Awwal Park on Monday, October 12. The match was scheduled to begin before Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety warning. The alert came amid reported missile threats targeting the Saudi capital.
According to reports, the warning was issued around 15 minutes before the scheduled kick-off. Players remained in the dressing rooms while spectators waited inside the stadium. Saudi authorities later announced that the immediate danger had passed, allowing the match to proceed.
The Saudi-led coalition said its forces had intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh. Explosions were also reported in the city that evening. The security situation added an unusual interruption to the continental football fixture.
Despite the delay, Al-Nassr secured a 3–1 victory over their Uzbek opponents. Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. Cristiano Ronaldo then doubled the home side’s lead shortly before half-time with a finish inside the penalty area.
Neftchi Fergana responded early in the second half. Alisher Odilov scored to reduce the deficit and give the visitors hope of recovering. However, the visitors faced another setback when Ikromjon Alibaev received a red card in the 65th minute.
Al-Nassr eventually secured the result through an own goal in the 78th minute. The victory gave the Saudi club an important result in the AFC Champions League Elite campaign.
After the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo joined his teammates in acknowledging the supporters. During the celebrations, a fan handed him a green scarf featuring the Saudi Arabian flag. Ronaldo waved the scarf before placing it around his neck.
The gesture drew attention as celebrations followed a match disrupted by security concerns. Images and videos of the Portuguese forward with the scarf circulated on social media after the game.
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The AFC Champions League Elite features leading clubs from across Asia. Al-Nassr’s latest victory combined a successful performance on the pitch with an unusual evening shaped by regional security concerns. The match ultimately concluded after authorities confirmed the immediate threat had passed.
