RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr`s second goal as the Saudi Pro League champions overcame an hour-long security delay to beat Uzbekistan`s Neftchi 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

Kick-off was delayed after Saudi Arabia`s Civil Defence issued a safety warning 15 minutes before the scheduled start time in Riyadh, which has been targeted by missiles fired from Yemen-based Houthis in recent days.

Ange Postecoglou`s side shook off the interruption to go in front through Angelo in the 33rd minute with a deflected strike before Ronaldo doubled the lead nine minutes later.

The 41-year-old struck after Sadio Mane delivered a looping cross from the left that Aiman Yahya directed into Ronaldo`s path with his chest, and the Portuguese forward lashed the ball into the bottom corner with a shot on the turn.

Alisher Odilov pulled one back for Neftchi six minutes into the second half, but Ikromjon Alibaev`s red card for a foul on Mohamed Simakan in the 65th minute and an own goal by Anvarjon Gofurov 13 minutes later sealed the win for Al-Nassr.

Meanwhile, defending champions Al-Ahli scored twice in the second half to pick up their first win of the new campaign as Marino Pusic`s side beat Al-Wasl from the United Arab Emirates 3-1.

Roger Ibanez put Al-Ahli ahead with a 20th-minute header but Pedro Malheiro levelled in the third minute of firsthalf stoppage time.

Goals from Trincao and Feras Al-Brikan in the 58th and 91st minutes, respectively, moved Al-Ahli onto four points from their opening two matches.

`We created also in the first half, but in the second half we made our goals, and I think that was the difference,` said Trincao. `Physically we were alittle bit better, and that was the key to changing the game.

Houssine Rahimi scored twice as Al-Ain defeated Air Force Club 4-1 in Basra, while Hossein Goudarzi`s 60th minute goal earned Iran`s Esteghlal a 2-1 win over Al-Gharafa.

A last-minute penalty from Dostonbek Khamdamov salvaged a 1-1 draw for Pakhtakor against Brendan Rodgers` Al-Qadsiah in Tashkent, while Tractor from Iran were held to a 0-0 draw by Qatar`s Al-Shamal.

KASHIMA ANTLERS REMAIN PERFECT On Tuesday, Kashima Antlers earned a 1-0 win over Vietnamese hosts Cong An Ha Noi thanks to an own goal to move top of the table in the eastern league phase.

Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh`s own goal in the 61st minute kept the J-League champions perfect after Toru Oniki`s side started their campaign by thrashing Newcastle Jets last month.

Kashima lead compatriots Gamba Osaka, who also secured a second win in a row when Tomokazu Myojin`s team came back from a goal behind to win 3-1 against Newcastle in Australia.

Meanwhile, Fabio Abreu`s 79th minute header earned Beijing Guoan a 1-0 win over hosts Buriram United in Thailand as the Chinese Super League outfit also secured their second successive victory.

Elsewhere, Marcos Guilherme scored twice as Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta`zim took advantage of Pohang Steelers midfielder Jeon Min-gwang`s sending off just before the break to win 2-0.

The first eight finishers in the 16-team league phase in both east and west Asia will advance to the knockout rounds of the competition, with the tournament`s quarter-finals, semifinals and final to be played in Saudi Arabia next April.

-Reuters