UCL: Ronaldo's late winner seals epic Man United comeback

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Atalanta 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League group stage fixture on Wednesday at Old Trafford. Atalanta scored two first half goals through Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral to put the pressure on United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, the hosts regrouped themselves and pulled one back early in the second half through Marcus Rashford before Harry Maguire leveled the score. Meanwhile with just ten minutes remaining, Cristiano Ronaldo netted the winner with his trademark header to secure victory for the Red Devils.

Manchester United created the first opening of the match as McTominay played in Rashford and the Englishman’s blushes were spared by the offside as he missed the target. However, the visitors took the lead within 15 minutes as a quickly taken free-kick caught United off guard. Luis Muriel laid a ball to Davide Zappacosta on the right side of the penalty area. The Italian full-back’s low cross was tapped in by Pasalic from close range. A VAR check ensured that the goalscorer had timed his run to perfection and the goal stood.

In response at the other end, Ronaldo’s cross from the right fell to Fred at the far post, but the Brazilian’s shot was tipped over the bar by Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso. Meanwhile things got worse for the home side as Atalanta doubled the lead in the 28th minute. Teun Koopmeiners in-swinging corner from the right flank was headed home by Demiral. It was poor set-piece defending from United as the Turkish defender was allowed to have a free header inside the box.

Ronaldo’s late winner

Although Solskjaer’s side were creating chances, their finishing was letting them down. Bruno Fernandes played in Fred and the 28-year-old kept his composure to get past one defender inside the area before bending his shot wide of the far post. In the first half stoppage time, Fernandes’ long ball from the back released Rashford free on goal but the 23-year-old’s shot brushed the crossbar and went over.

Solskjaer’s side continued attacking after the break as Frenandes’ through ball found Ronaldo and the 37-year-old’s shot was blocked by Musso. Seven minutes into the second half, Josip Ilicic’s miss-pass in the middle of the park allowed Fernandes to release Rashford down the right side. The England international drove forward before slotting the ball in from a tight angle.

Five minutes later, McTominay’s close range effort from Greenwood’s cross hit the post. But Atalanta remained a threat at the other end, with De Gea making a double save to keep United in the game. Substitute Duvan Zapata easily went past Victor Lindelof to get on the end of Zappacosta’s long ball but his shot was brilliantly saved by De Gea and Ruslan Malinovskyi’s attempt from the rebound was also parried away by the Spanish custodian.

Meanwhile United equalized in the 75th minute from yet another Fernandes pass. The Portuguese midfielder’s cross from the right was flicked on by Edinson Cavani and the ball fell to Maguire at the far post, who swept home a fine finish. And then , in the 80th minute, left back Luke Shaw delivered a brilliant cross for Ronaldo to power a header past Musso and complete the comeback.

Young Boys 1-4 Villarreal

Elsewhere, in the other match of Group F of the UEFA Champions League, Villarreal beat Young Boys 4-1 in Bern to register their first win of this year’s competition. Yeremi Pino opened the scoring within 6 minutes of kick-off before Gerard Moreno doubled the lead in the 16th minute. Although the hosts pulled one back through Meschak Elia in the 77th minute, Alberto Moreno restored the two goal cushion for Villarreal, two minutes from time and then Samuel Chukwueze scored the Spanish club’s fourth of the night in stoppage time.

The win helped Villarreal to third spot in the group with four points from three games while Young Boys are at the bottom with three points from as many games.