MANCHESTER UNITED have beaten Villarreal in the Champions League – and they have Cristiano Ronaldo to thank after his late, late winner.
United were poor in the first half and had to rely on David De Gea’s heroics to keep the Spaniards at bay.
Paco Alcacer put the visitors ahead after the break, only for Alex Telles to reply just 10 minutes later – and Ronaldo left it late to send Old Trafford barmy.
- Final score: Man Utd 2-1 Villarreal
Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW!
It’s another incredible chapter in the Cristiano Ronaldo story as he snatches a last-gasp win for Manchester United.
Whether they deserved it is another matter against a Villarreal side who squandered a host of chances before finally going in front through Paco Alcacer.
Alex Telles equalised with a brilliant volley on the hour mark, but Ronaldo had to have the last word, firing home with virtually the last kick of the game after great work by substitute Jesse Lingard.
United’s next game in the competition sees them host Italian side Atalanta on 20th October.
OGS: WE GOT LUCKY
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his side had more than a stroke of good fortune in their thrilling late win over Villarreal.
“That’s what happens here at Old Trafford,” he told BT Sport.
“We threw caution to the wind, and we got lucky.
“They’re a hard team to play against. When you have Cristiano on the pitch there’s always a chance. Cristiano is so good in front of goal.
“Jesse isn’t happy at not playing more. But he came on and made an impact.
“It’s massive to win games in this fashion.”
.Credit: PA BRUNO REACTION
Bruno Fernandes was a happy man after Manchester United’s late, late show.
He told BT Sport: “It’s always difficult to play against Spanish teams. They’re always well organised in defence.
“When they scored, I still felt we could come. We got an unbelievable goal from Alex and the push from the fans was incredible.
“Cristiano… strikers have that feeling to score and he always has it.”
.Credit: EPA
FT: MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 VILLARREAL
Extraordinary scenes at Old Trafford as Cristiano Ronaldo, with virtually the last kick of the game, wins it for Manchester United.
The Red Devils were trailing when Paco Alcacer deservedly put the visitors in front.
Alex Telles levelled in style on the hour mark, but we looked to be heading for a draw until Ronaldo popped up at the death. Just incredible.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 VILLARREAL
90+5. Can you believe it! It’s that man Ronaldo! Fred’s cross is nodded down by Ronaldo to Lingard. He taps it back to Ronaldo who fires home at the near post. UNBELIEVABLE!
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL MANCHESTER UNITED!!!!!
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
90+3. Good save by Rulli to keep out Lingard’s near-post effort as he latched on to Ronaldo’s cross.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
90+2. United break and Fernandes tries to find Ronaldo. His first touch is poor and forces him wide and the cross is cleared. Cavani wanted a penalty but there was nothing doing.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
90. There will be five minutes of added time. Pena is booked for a foul on Fernandes to hand United a free-kick. The set-piece is floated in and eventually falls to McTominay who sends a volley towards goal. However, it lacks power and is comfortably saved.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
89. Last roll of the dice for United as Lingard and Fred come on for Telles and Greenwood.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
86. How has that stayed out? Gomez is invited to shoot and is denied by De Gea’s glove. The save bounces straight off Dia and is heading in, but De Gea sticks out a hand to deny him. There’s then a crazy scramble but a combination of Varane and Telles keep the ball out as Dia tries to bundle it home.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
79. What a miss from Cavani. Greenwood whips in a delicious cross from the right and finds Cavani at the far post. With the goal gaping he heads it wide.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
74. Now United make some changes. Matic is on for Sancho and Pogba trots off for Cavani. The Uruguayan splashed his face with water before he came on. He just needed to look up at the sky to get a good soaking. It’s still not really clicked for Sancho in United colours yet.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
73. Three changes for Villarreal. Mandi, Gomez and Pena replace Albiol, Pino and Moreno. Meanwhile, in shocking news, it’s raining in Manchester.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
71. Greenwood skips down the right but Rulli gets a big paw to his cross. Telles is rightly booked for catching Pino.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
70. Danjuma looks to head towards goal again but Lindelof watches him all the way and snuffs out the danger.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
68. Greenwood picks up a yellow card for a pull of Dia’s shirt. Not the kind of card Greenwood wants this close to his birthday. Now Albiol is booked for hauling back Ronaldo.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
67. Pino goes into the book after a poor tackle on Telles.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
63. Just before the goal Alcacer had made way for Dia. Moreno was then booked for kicking the ball away when Greenwood won a free-kick, which United levelled from. Villarreal made another change immediately after the equaliser with Trigueros replaced by Estupinan.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
62. It should have been 2-1 to United but Sancho, who’s in acres of space, slips as he pulls the trigger and his shot rolls tamely to Rulli.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
60. Cometh the hour. Fernandes chips a free-kick from the right all the way out to Telles on the far side. He hits a brilliant volley through a crowd of players and past Rulli. What… a… goal!
GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL MANCHESTER UNITED!!!!
MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 VILLARREAL
56. Oooooh. Fernandes takes aim from distance, but it flies a few yards wide.
MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 VILLARREAL
53. It’s a lead they deserve. Dalot fails to cut out Trigueros’ pass to Danjuma and the winger’s square ball is poked in by Alcacer. Can United respond?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
