Ronaldo late present provides Man United win over Villarreal

Manchester United’s Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (C) celebrates with Manchester United’s Swedish defender Victor Lindelof on the closing whistle within the UEFA Champions League group F soccer  on September 29, 2021. (Picture by Anthony Devlin / AFP)

MANCHESTER–Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Manchester United got here from behind to safe a lucky 2-1 Champions League Group F win over Villarreal at Previous Trafford on Wednesday.

On the night time he set the brand new document for probably the most appearances within the competitors, the 36-year-old Portuguese delivered the killer blow to avoid wasting his supervisor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from one other disappointing end result and the inevitable inquests.

“If you’ve bought Cristiano on the pitch, you’ve at all times bought an opportunity,” the Norwegian stated.

“Severely, he’s so so good in entrance of objective. Its an enormous end result for the staff and for the spirit of the staff,” he added.

United had fallen a objective behind to Paco Alcacer’s 53rd- minute opener earlier than drawing stage with an excellent volley from Alex Telles however failing to take advantage of the momentum shift.

After three defeats in its final 4 video games, together with the loss in Bern to Younger Boys within the group opener, United might ill-afford one other slip-up.

However for lengthy stretches of the sport an upset seemed very a lot on the playing cards and had the guests been sharper in entrance of objective, the competition might need been over by the break.

Villarreal had crushed Solskjaer’s staff on penalties in final season’s Europa League closing and Unai Emery’s facet’s wonderful group and talent on the break once more posed issues for a disjointed United.

DIFFICULT HALF

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? @Cristiano #MUFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/iCX9qNsRBG

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 29, 2021

With Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan Bissaka and Luke Shaw all lacking from the protection, United was simply opened up within the first half with Diogo Dalot enduring a very tough 45 minutes.

Arnaut Danjuma tormented the United proper again and examined David De Gea twice after chopping in from the left flank.

Alcacer had a header from a Danjuma cross tipped over by the United keeper and, after a slip-up by Raphael Varane, discovered himself one-on-one with De Gea however fired huge.

After squandering these possibilities, nevertheless, Villarreal took a deserved lead when a counter-attack was completed off by Alcacer who turned in Danjuma’s low cross.

United struck again seven minutes later with a cleverly labored free kick as Bruno Fernandes chipped the ball deep to Telles on the left and the Brazilian fired house an ideal volley.

Edinson Cavani missed a great probability to seize a winner for United, heading huge on the again put up, and the hosts survived a goalmouth scramble with Boulaye Dia going shut for Villarreal.

Then, deep into stoppage time, substitute Fred crossed from the left and Ronaldo headed to Jesse Lingard who fed the ball again for the Portuguese to drive house.

Previous Trafford erupted in aid and pleasure and Ronaldo picked up a yellow card for ripping off his shirt and throwing it into the group in his 178th Champions League match.

Atalanta prime the group standings with 4 factors, one forward of Younger Boys and United.

Villarreal is backside with one level after a merciless finish to the match.

“We’re aggravated. The sport was principally over, we simply wanted to see it out and we didn’t. We have to study from this. We have been impeccable earlier than that, taking the lead, creating possibilities, being higher than Man United at Previous Trafford,” defender Pau Torres stated.

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