Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late goal to give Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Villarreal in Champions League’s group stage. Among other Champions League football news, United avenge Villareal at last, after losing to them in the Europa League final.
After taking a second-half lead, the Yellow Submarine had several chances to put the game out of reach. But a tenacious United foiled them.
Champions League Football News – United Avenge Villareal at Last
Former Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma had two perfect chances to open the scoring for Villarreal in the first 10 minutes. But David De Gea denied him a goal on either of the two occasions.
The Dutchman continued to cause problems down United’s right flank, however, with his one driven cross meeting Paco Alcacer’s head. This header forced De Gea to react quickly to tip it over or it was close to being a goal.
Raphael Varane’s lapse in concentration allowed Alcacer to sneak in behind, but the Spaniard couldn’t keep his shot on target.
United came closest to scoring in the first half. Ex-Liverpool man Alberto Moreno nearly put the ball into his own net but it rolled just beyond Geronimo Rulli’s goal.
Soon after the break, Villarreal took a deserved lead, with Alcacer poking home Danjuma’s low cross. This was after sneaking between Victor Lindelof and Alex Telles.
Telles made amends for such lousy defense by equalizing at 60 minutes, volleying home a clever free-kick from Bruno Fernandes.
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho had a great chance to put United ahead almost immediately, but he slipped when pulling the trigger.
After meeting Mason Greenwood’s cross, substitute Edinson Cavani created the game’s next big chance. However, his headed effort went narrowly wide.
With five minutes remaining, United were let off the hook again when Boulaye Dia failed to scramble in a goal from inside the six-yard box, despite Telles providing a crucial block on the line.
Deep into stoppage time, the ball then ricocheted to Ronaldo at close range. And he slotted it into the roof of the net, sending Old Trafford into delirium.
Manchester United 2 – 1 Villarreal
Goals: 0 – 1 Alcacer 53, 1 – 1 Telles 60, 2 – 1 Ronaldo 90+5
Bookings: Greenwood, Telles, Ronaldo; Moreno, Pino, Albiol, Pena
Manchester United: de Gea, Telles, Lindelof, Varane, Dalot, McTominay, Pogba, Sancho, Fernandes, Greenwood, Ronaldo
Substitutions: Lingard, Cavani, Matic, Fred
Villarreal: Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Moreno, Parejo, Capoue, Trigueros, Pin, Acacer, Danjuma
Substituions: Mandi, Dia, Pena, Gomez, Estupinan
