Madrid, November 23 (BNA): A clever piece of improvisation from Cristiano Ronaldo helped send Manchester United into the round of 16 of the Champions League, as interim manager Michael Carrick began his tenure with the English club’s 2-0 win over Villarreal on Tuesday. .
Ronaldo scored his fifth goal at this stage of the group stage and ranked 140th in the competition, as Ronaldo adjusted his feet and the goalkeeper rushed with a goal for the first time in the 78th minute after Farid recovered the ball high on the field.
Jadon Sancho then scored his first goal since his $100m move to United, hitting the underside of the crossbar in the 90th minute at the end of an all-around counterattack that was so characteristic of the team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Now gone, Solskjaer was sent off on Sunday after a string of unfortunate results that culminated in a humiliating 4-1 loss to Watford in the Premier League on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
Carrick, one of Solskjaer’s assistants, fills his place as a substitute until a long-term transition is found and puts his stamp on the team by dropping Bruno Fernandes and starting Donny van de Beek.
Carrick oversaw a disciplined if limited performance by United until Ronaldo caused an explosive end to his 140th goal in the competition. He has scored in all five group stage matches this season.
United are in first place with 10 points, three ahead of Villarreal, and are guaranteed to finish first and second in their last Group F game at home to the Young Boys in two weeks’ time.
It remains to be seen if Carrick stays in the position, but he is off to a strong start on his interim tenure – even if David de Gea keeps United in the match with two superb bralettes to deny Manu Trigueros either side in the first half.
In the first half, United sat outside Villarreal and opened at times, with Ronaldo playing mostly anonymously on the left of the front three with Sancho on the right and Anthony Martial.
He came back to life in the second half and his goal was astonishing after Fred Etienne Capoue was sent off after an ill-advised pass from behind by goalkeeper Jeronimo Rulli.
Ronaldo rotated and placed his right arm over Roli inside the near post.
Fred also raised the break which Sancho ended in a ruthless manner after Fernandes came off the bench in the 66th minute.
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