Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Al-Nassr survived a scare in the Asian Champions League on Monday, with the Saudi Pro League side coming from a goal down to hand Tajikistan’s Istiklol a 3-1 defeat in Riyadh. The defending champions from last season had started the group stage with a comfortable victory over Persepolis, and they kept up their perfect record with a win at home to Istiklol.

Luis Castro’s sides were well below par in the first half but still had 80% possession and nine shots on target to their opponents’ one. A few of those came close, with a Ghareeb strike skewing wide and another missing the top corner by inches. They were also denied a second when Rustam Yatimov saved a low shot from the former Real Madrid man.

Nevertheless, the visitors held out under relentless pressure until Ronaldo stepped up to the plate in the second period at KSU Football Field. The 38-year-old, the all-time leading scorer in Europe’s Champions League with 140 goals, took his time before squirming a shot past Yatimov with his left foot.

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That goal sparked the hosts into life, and they went close again when Ronaldo flicked a header just wide of the post after good work from Mohamed al-Khaibari on the right. A minute later, Ghareeb headed the hosts back in front, and they wrapped up victory 13 minutes from the end with a brilliant goal from Anderson Talisca.

The 77th-minute winner was another superb skill from the Brazilian, who finished off some neat interplay with a delightful chip. It was Talisca’s first goal for the club since joining FC Barcelona last summer and his third in the competition.

He has scored seven in six appearances this season and is starting to look the part as he settles into his new surroundings. The Brazilian, who has also played for Juventus and Real Madrid, will be hoping to add to that tally before the end of the campaign.

Istiklol, meanwhile, are left with a worrying 3-0 deficit at the bottom of the group, and they will be concerned by their lack of creativity in attack. The club from Dushanbe has yet to score in their two Champions League games this season, and they remain the only team from Tajikistan not to win in the tournament so far. Their only competitive game of the year was a 2-0 friendly loss to Al Hilal in December. They must pick up points at home against Persepolis on Thursday and in the return leg at home to keep their hopes of qualification alive. They are fourth in the table, four points behind big-spending leaders Al Hilal. The top four sides will qualify for the quarter-finals. The draw for the knockout phase takes place on Wednesday.