Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal as Al-Nassr defeated Neftchi Fergana 3-1 at Al-Awwal Park on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Al-Nassr Secures First Tournament Points
Al-Nassr entered the fixture under significant pressure, seeking to recover from a 4-0 opening loss to Al-Ain. The victory against the Uzbek side, Neftchi Fergana, moved the Saudi club to three points in the group standings.
Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring for the hosts in the 33rd minute. Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, connecting with a pass from Sadio Mane that was set up by substitute Ayman Yahya. Neftchi Fergana briefly narrowed the deficit when Alisher Odilov scored in the 51st minute, but a 78th-minute own goal by Bojan Ciger sealed the 3-1 result for Al-Nassr. The match also saw tactical changes for Al-Nassr, with coach Ange Postecoglou introducing Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Nader Al-Sharari to replace Mohamed Simakan and Ayman Yahya during the second half.
The goal marked a milestone for the Portuguese forward, who has now reached 981 career goals. With this strike, Ronaldo remains 19 goals shy of the milestone mark. He played a complete match and scored a goal… He is a player who does not repeat, Postecoglou noted. This return to form comes after the forward recently left his national team camp following a dispute with coach Roberto Martinez regarding playing time policies.
Players Clash During Intense Second Half
The second half saw increased friction on the pitch. Shortly thereafter, tempers flared between Al-Nassr defender Inigo Martinez and a Neftchi opponent.
Al-Nassr and Neftchi Compete in League Standings
The 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite continues with a format featuring 16 clubs in the West and 16 in the East. The top eight teams from each region advance to the knockout stages, which transition to a home-and-away format before concluding with a single-match final in Saudi Arabia. Following Monday’s results, Al-Nassr occupies the eighth position in the group table, while Neftchi Fergana sits seventh, despite both clubs holding three points from their respective fixtures. Elsewhere in the tournament, Al-Ahli, the defending champion, moved to four points by defeating Al-Wasl 3-1, while Al-Ain maintained their strong form by defeating Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 4-1.
