Ronaldo saves MU blushes as he scores dramatic last-minute winner in Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning 95th-minute goal to help Manchester United win 2-1 against Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Spanish team started brighter, creating a slew of chances, but United goalkeeper David de Gea was in superb form.
Paco Alcácer of Spain finally broke the deadlock for the visitors right after halftime, knocking home from close range.
A magnificent volleyed equalizer from Brazilian left-back Alex Telles tied the scores, before Ronaldo rifled home from inside the box to rescue Manchester United at Old Trafford, like he has done countless times before.
It was an even more crucial triumph for the three-time Champions League winners after losing its first group encounter of the season at Young Boys in Switzerland.
Ronaldo said that the game was a "struggle" after saving his team's blushes.
"We had a little bit of a struggle because we knew before the game that we must win the game," the 36-year-old told the media. "It was tough, the team was a little nervous, especially, well, first and second half to be honest.
"But we had a little bit of luck as well, that we didn't have in the last game. It was good. It was good. A great attitude from our players, the fans pushed us a lot. After the Telles goal, we believed, we believed. Because here, in this stadium, the history that this club has, it is possible to do it. We believed. I said to the players in the tunnel before the second half that we should believe."
It seemed only right that Ronaldo would score in dramatic fashion to steal the show on what was a record-breaking night for him.
After passing former Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas to become the all-time greatest appearance maker in the Champions League, the Portuguese international was playing his 178th match.
With his goal on Wednesday, Ronaldo now has 136 goals in the Champions League, with Lionel Messi in second place with 121 goals.
However, against Villarreal, things did not go well for the English giants, as Unai Emery's team got off to a strong start.
Villarreal caused United a slew of difficulties because of the pace and slick passing of Alcácer and Arnaut Danjuma, and United was left scratching its head as to how it didn't score in the first half.
But Alcácer poked home from Danjuma's low cross only eight minutes after the halftime break to give the visitors the lead.
The goal seemed to jolt the home side into action, and it took a brilliantly executed volley from Telles on the hour mark to square the score.
And just when the game appeared to be heading for a sad draw for Manchester United after Edinson Cavani lost a wonderful chance to win it, Ronaldo appeared.
Jesse Lingard's clever touch set the ball up for Cristiano Ronaldo, who blasted the ball home from an acute angle with Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli off his line to salvage three points.
"That is what happens at Old Trafford," manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told BT Sport."It has happened so many times before. We had to throw caution to the wind and we got lucky in the end.
"Sometimes, it is not about 'pass there, pass there,' it is the crowd -- and they have sucked it in before -- and when you have Cristiano on the pitch, you always have a chance. He is so good in front of goal and he has an impact on everyone."
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