Video: Felix's rocket rescues Ronaldo and Al-Nassr from the jaws of Neom

Al-Nassr had to wait until the 61st minute to break the deadlock. Joao Felix latched onto a superb pass and unleashed a powerful strike that nestled into Neom's net, handing his side a one-goal lead and ending both teams' frustrating search for a breakthrough.

The Portuguese's goal could not have come at a better time. Al-Nassr had dominated without reward, undone by a resolute Neom defence and wasted chances at both ends. Felix, once again, made the difference when it mattered most.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, suffered through one of his toughest outings. He blew a golden chance at the end of the first half, firing his penalty bizarrely wide of the target.

The Al-Nassr captain's misery didn't end there. Two minutes into the second half, he met a header from Senegal's Sadio Mane after a corner, stood in front of a gaping net, and somehow ballooned the ball over the crossbar.

A third chance went begging in the 75th minute. Ronaldo collected a pass inside the box and dragged his shot just wide of the left post. Any one of those misses would have handed Al-Nassr a far more comfortable win. Instead his side had to cling to their lead until the final whistle.

France's Alexandre Lacazette squandered an early chance for Neom in the fifth minute. He went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only for Brazilian Bento Matheus to thwart his attempt and spare Al-Nassr from conceding early.

Neom's striker almost levelled things up too, rising to meet a dangerous header that cannoned off the crossbar.

Al-Nassr weathered it all. They held their lead until the final whistle to claim three precious points, lifting their tally to 22 and third place, two points behind leaders Al-Hilal and three off Al-Qadsiah. Neom stayed stuck on 16 points in sixth.