Cristiano Ronaldo and the Al Nassr team of Saudi Arabia faced a one-hour delay in the AFC Champions League match. This delay followed the announcement by the Saudi-led military coalition regarding the interception of a missile fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh.
Details of the Incident and Match Conditions
Saudi Arabia has recently faced a series of attacks from the Houthi group, which is backed by Iran. These attacks include assaults on oil facilities, tankers, and transportation centers, including deadly attacks on Riyadh International Airport.
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The match between Al Nassr and the Neftchi Fergana team from Uzbekistan, which was scheduled to start at 21:15 local time, was delayed following this alert. While a few spectators were present in the "Al-Awwal" stadium, the stadium announcer declared the situation safe and asked spectators to remain in their seats. However, the broadcasting channel announced a one-hour delay.
Ronaldo's Reaction and Match Outcome
Before the sound of explosions was heard in Riyadh, residents of the city also received alerts on their phones stating: "The area is under threat of enemy aerial attack. Please remain calm and stay in your home or a safe place and follow civil defense instructions." The military coalition also stated in a statement that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis.
However, this incident did not seem to affect Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star managed to score his 981st goal in the final minute of the first half, and ultimately, Al Nassr won the match 3-1.
41-year-old Ronaldo had recently been temporarily suspended for leaving the Portugal national team during international training. This issue did not affect his performance in this match, and he took the field in top shape.
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