CRISTIANO RONALDO can now change his trademark name to CR7-00 after finally grabbing his 700th club career goal.
Manchester United’s goalscoring legend wrote another chapter in his amazing story to earn United three hard-earned points which ended Everton’s dreams of making it a hat-trick of Premier League wins.
Ronaldo kicked off his night by starting on the bench for the fifth consecutive league match for the first time since he was a kid at Sporting Lisbon in 2002-03.
But he soon took centre-stage, 15 minutes after replacing the injured Anthony Martial, as he ran on to a Casemiro through ball to calmly beat Jordan Pickford.
That marked a remarkable recovery by United’s £60million Brazilian midfielder who cost his side to let Everton open the scoring when he was robbed of possession in the build up to Alex Iwobi’s opener.
However the five-time Champions League winner restored his reputation when he intercepted an Iwobi pass to create Ronaldo’s winner with a move made in Madrid.
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Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated the Red Devils.
David De Gea – 7
Unsighted by Luke Shaw and powerless to prevent Iwobi’s early stunner from ripping into the roof of his net.
But recovered to steady his defence’s frayed nerves, acting as a sweeper-keeper at times to offer a security blanket behind his leaky defence.
Saved United at the end with a brilliant one-handed stop to deny James Garner.
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Diogo Dalot – 6
Had an early shot blocked by James Tarkowski and was a willing runner who loves to get on the front foot.
However he was also guilty of some slapstick distribution which caused his mates palpitations at times. Defensively suspect.
Victor Lindelof – 7
Made his first Prem start of season and got stronger the longer the match went on.
Produced a couple of perfectly timed tackles to frustrate the Toffees and will take a lot of confidence from standing firm at the end.
Lisandro Martinez – 8
Crunched into tackles and stood up to Everton on the ground and in the air. His dogged determination set a good example.
Even the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin couldn’t ruffle this combative Red who recovered well from the trauma of last week’s six-goal mauling by Man City.
Luke Shaw – 8
Was thrown into the ring with orders to tame wonderkid Anthony Gordon, who revealed he uses boxing training to stay in peak condition.
However the Everton winger never laid a glove on Shaw who had him on the ropes throughout.
Frank Lampard eventually threw in the towel and replaced Gordon as the Red corner won by a technical knockout.
Casemiro – 8
Got off to a disastrous start on his first Premier start when he dithered in possession and was robbed by Onana to gift Alex Iwobi his early opener.
The 30-year-old fluffed his first chance to make amends when he headed wide when it looked easier to score.
But you can’t keep a good man down and it was £60million midfielder who robbed Everton of possession and played a brilliant early ball to set Ronaldo free for the winner.
A goal made in Madrid by two Galactico greats.
Christian Eriksen – 6
Denied a first half goal when Jordan Pickford got down well to turn away his netbound effort.
However he won’t care too much as his side took all three points.
He acts as a midfield quarter-back, setting the tempo for United and calming them down when things got frantic.
He made it a staggering 14 games without loss against Everton here.
Antony – 7
Sparked United into life with his brilliantly-taken opener.
That made the Brazilian the first United player to score in his first three Premier League appearances for United.
Stretched Everton’s backline and played with the confidence of an £80million superstar before making way for Raphael Varane late on.
Marcus Rashford – 7
Produced some lovely link up play and presented Casemiro with a gilt-edged chance before half-time which was squandered.
However his Everton hoodoo continued as he was cruelly denied a hard-earned ‘goal,’ for an accidental handball as he crashed through Tarkowski’s challenge.
That racked up a dirty dozen games without scoring against the Toffees – the longest barren run he’s endured against any team.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Suffered another hugely frustrating night as he continues to search for only his second United goal of the season.
He did have the ball in the net – only for VAR to correctly spot Ronaldo was offside in the build-up.
And his Portugal team-mate also stretched to head wide when Fernandes seemed better placed to burst the net. With friends like that…
Anthony Martial – 7
Damaged his hip during the pre-match warm-up but soldiered on to make his first Premier start of the season and was rewarded when he threaded a lovely through ball for Antony’s equaliser.
However his stop-start United career stalled again when he had to limp off before the half-hour – poor reward for contributing three goals and two assists in his last four games.
Substitutes
Cristiano Ronaldo (on for Martial, 28 mins) – 8
The scowl has gone, the smile has returned and no wonder.
The football phenomenon which is Ronaldo celebrated the 700th goal of his extraordinary career, 15 minutes after coming on with a typically clinical trademark finish.
It’s a goal he will always remember and came a mere 17 years after his last goal against the Toffees, in the FA Cup when he was 20.
Scott McTominay (on for Eriksen, 83 mins) – 5
Earned his fifth yellow card of the season within moments of coming on for a raking challenge down Andre Gray’s shin.
The Scotland midfielder will now miss United’s game against Newcastle.
Raphael Varane (on for Antony, 90 mins)
Replaced Antony in stoppage time as a time-wasting tactic and to provide some valuable aerial support as Everton threw the kitchen sink at United in a frantic finale.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
