Neymar scores first Al Hilal goal in victory over Nassaji in AFC Champions League

Neymar scored his first goal for Al Hilal as the Saudi Pro League side collected an easy 3-0 win over Iran's Nassaji Mazandaran in the AFC Champions League at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday night.

The Brazil star, who had drawn a blank in five Hilal games across all competitions, made it 2-0 on the hour mark with a classy finish across the keeper from the edge of the box. Almost immediately from the restart he ran through the home defence again but this time his dinked finish came back off the foot of the post and was scrambled clear.

Aleksandar Mitrovic earlier opened the scoring with a trademark header and Saleh Al Shehri struck a third late on in a win that elevates Hilal to second place in Group D, level on four points with Navbahor, who beat Mumbai City 3-0 earlier in the day.

There had been considerable doubt about the game going ahead throughout most of Tuesday following Monday night's incident in Iran prior to the abandoned tie involving Hilal's SPL rivals Al Ittihad and their hosts Sepahan.

The Group C match was called off at the last minute as players from the Saudi club reportedly refused to enter the pitch due to a statue of assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani being at the end of the tunnel in close proximity to the playing surface.

The Asian Football Confederation said the game, which was due to be played in Isfahan's Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium, had been "cancelled due to unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances".

However, Hilal did take to the pitch at the same Azadi Stadium that had hosted Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr last month - and it didn't take them long to have the ball in the net.

Neymar unlocked the home defence and Mitrovic bundled in a low cross only to be flagged for offside.