MANCHESTER UNITED came from 2-0 down to beat Atalanta 3-2 in a remarkable Champions League comeback at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo shone from the front and deserved the winning goal he got with nine minutes to go but Mason Greenwood had a night to forget.
Chelsea rejects Davide Zappacosta and Mario Pasalic combined after quarter-of-an-hour with the latter stabbing home from close range to put Atalanta 1-0 up.
And United’s evening went from bad to worse as Merih Demiral got between Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire to head in a corner just before the half-hour mark.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under severe pressure before the game but whatever he said at half-time might just have saved his job as United completed a remarkable second-half comeback.
Marcus Rashford converted an exquisite Bruno Fernandes pass before Maguire fired home on 75 minutes to make it 2-2.
And of course, it was that man Ronaldo who stole the headlines on 81 minutes when he leaped like a salmon to head home Shaw’s excellent cross to make it 3-2.
Here’s what SunSport’s William Pugh thought of United’s individual performances.
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DAVID DE GEA – 7/10
Couldn’t do much with either of Atalanta’s first two goals – both of which were scored from close range.
Made a phenomenal double save with 20 minutes to go to keep United in it and save Lindelof’s blushes after he was turned by Duvan Zupata.
AARON WAN-BISSAKA – 5
Uninspiring. But neat and tidy. As always.
Offered very little going forward but was up against it when defending as Greenwood in front of him offered zero in support.
VICTOR LINDELOF – 4
Dragged out of position then caught flat-footed as Zappacosta whipped the ball in for Pasalic to stab home and put the visitors 1-0 up.
Turned much too easily by Zupata midway through the second-half and only a fantastic double save from De Gea prevented Atalanta going 3-1 up.
Showed why United signed Raphael Varane.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Could have reacted quicker for Demiral’s goal.
Was the spare man in the area the goal was scored from so would have been expected to do more to prevent it.
Excellent movement and a finish any top striker would be proud of to make it 2-2.
LUKE SHAW – 4
Was out of position in the build up to Atalanta’s opener which came down his flank.
Was supposed to be marking Demiral but was shaken off easily before the centre-back rose to head the visitors 2-0 up.
Booked for a body check on Zappacosta just past the hour mark.
As good as made amends for a shaky defensive display by providing a pin-point cross for Ronaldo to nod home the winner.
SCOTT McTOMINAY – 5 (subbed 65 mins)
Failed to track Pasalic’s run for the opener.
Somehow hit the post from barely six yards just before the hour mark as the ball cannoned of his shin.
Looked a little overrun in midfield but him and Fred were victims of the overly attacking lineup. Hooked on 65 minutes.
FRED – 6 (subbed 88mins)
Unfortunate to see his powerful volley saved after 20 minutes as United tried to make it 1-1.
But missed a glaring chance to pull one back for United in the closing stages of the first-half as he curled a right-footed effort past the right-hand post from just inside the penalty area.
Was left a little exposed by Solskjaer’s 4-2-4 system alongside McTominay but dealt with the challenge as well as he could.
MASON GREENWOOD – 4 (subbed 72 mins)
Sluggish, slow and made zero impact before the break.
Failed to track back and help his side defend when the ball was turned over in a woeful first-half.
Fizzed a ball across the box after an hour only to see McTominay shin it onto the post from close range.
Hauled off with 20 minutes to go. An evening to forget.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7
Almost invisible in the first-half.
And when he did get on the ball, his passing was well off as he continually gave it away or knocked it out of play.
Livened up after the break and created two clear cut chances within the first 10 minutes – Ronaldo spurned one and Rashford scored the second after a delightful Fernandes pass with the outside of his right foot.
Will need to perform for 90 minutes against Liverpool next up, not just 45.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7 (subbed 65 mins)
Energetic start on his return to the starting XI but lacked end product and looked rusty until his second-half goal.
Dawdled when through on goal and allowed Demiral get a last-ditch tackle in as he tried to pull one back with five minutes to go in the first period.
Cannoned an effort off the bar just minutes later when he really should have scored.
Got his mojo back eight minutes into the second-half as he slotted into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1.
CRISTIANO RONALDO – 8
Energetic and mobile and unselfishly linked play to good effect as he tried to make things happen throughout the first-half.
Smashed a huge chance against the keeper when through on goal just minutes into the second-half.
Forced a very good save from Juan Musso soon after with a low left-footed effort.
And did what he does best with nine minutes to go as he leaped like a salmon to nod home Shaw’s inch-perfect cross and complete the comeback.
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Subs
PAUL POGBA (replaced McTominay) – 6
Injected some energy as United pushed for the winner.
EDINSON CAVANI (replaced Rashford) – 6
Booked for an accidental clash of heads with Jose Palomino.
JADON SANCHO (replaced Greenwood) – 6
Solid.
NEMANJA MATIC (replaced Fred) – 5
Booked for time wasting.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
