A stoppage time Cristiano Ronaldo goal saw Manchester United pinch a 2-1 win over Villarreal at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the Champions League.
It was a thrilling contest which saw a huge amount of chances at both ends and the Spanish side will not believe how they have come away with nothing after so many opportunities in the Group F contest.
Read Also: Manchester United Website Crashes After Club Confirm Cristiano Ronaldo Transfer
Unai Emery’s side took the lead after 53 minutes through Paco Alcacer after a well-worked move allowed him to poke past David De Gea, who had an excellent match.
However, the lead last just seven minutes before Alex Telles scored his first goal for the Red Devils, and did it in some style as he volleyed home from just outside the penalty box after Bruno Fernandes found him with a cross from the right.
It looked like it would end as a draw, but Ronaldo saved the day, cleverly finishing after substitute Jesse Lingard poked the ball to him on the right hand side of the box.
The first half ended goalless but there could have been a few at both ends, but especially for the away side, who squandered some excellent opportunities.
Solskjaer’s aggressive starting XI seemed just to be opening up spaces for the visitors more than creating chances for his own side.
Paco Alcacer wasted a great opportunity just before half time when he found himself in a two-on-one position, while Arnaut Danjuma kept causing serious trouble for Diogo Dalot at right-back.
Former Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno also missed a fine chance to open the scoring, but goalkeeper David De Gea was certainly United’s best player in the first half.
It was the away side that scored first, but they had to wait until the second half when Alcacer poked home after 53 minutes and some impressive build-up.
The Manchester United midfield was bypassed incredibly easily and after some neat passing on the edge of the box it was Danjuma who squared for Alcacer to finish past David De Gea.
The Red Devils could have been badly rattled by this, after a difficult night already, but a superb finish from Telles levelled the match just seven minutes later.
The Brazil international scored his first goal for the club as Bruno Fernandes chipped a free-kick to him from the right flank, with the full-back lurking, unmarked on the edge of the box.
Telles hit a sweet volley back across the goalkeeper and into the far corner, showing off some textbook technique in the process.
It was an open game throughout and it continued to be after the equaliser with more chances for both sides, most notably for substitute Edinson Cavani to put United ahead.
The Uruguayan veteran got his head to a fantastic Diogo Dalot cross, but could only nod wide of an open goal after the delivery evaded the goalkeeper, with Cavani distracted by a defender’s missed header.
Boulaye Dia then had two great chances for the Spaniards, forcing two sharp saves from De Gea, who continued his impressive performance.
A draw look secured before Ronaldo won it for the Red Devils sending Old Trafford into raptures.
Photo Credit: Getty
