Cristiano Ronaldo scores brace as Man United whip Newcastle
By Agencies, September 11, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero again, scoring twice as Javier Manquillo’s second-half equaliser for Newcastle proved in vain.
The 4-1 win, bolstered by goals from Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard, took Manchester United top of the table at the final whistle.
The 36-year-old forward, back in united red for the first time since leaving in 2009, opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, much to the joy of an expectant home crowd.
However former Liverpool player Javier Manquillo scored a fine equaliser on the counter-attack, Ronaldo was not to be denied, restoring the lead in front of the Stretford End.
Bruno Fernandes’s stunning strike from distance followed by Jesse Lingard’s late effort sealed the victory that takes United to the top of the Premier League table and – with Ronaldo – dreaming of staying there.
The pressure was constant in those opening minutes, the noise reverberating around the ground, but Steve Bruce’s side mustered enough counter-attacks to keep it interesting.
Paul Pogba and Fernandes tried to provide the prompting with Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood looking a little subdued as they searched for space.
That was until Greenwood cut inside from the left and fired off a hopeful shot that Freddie Woodman should have dealt with only for the goalkeeper to spill the ball.
There was Ronaldo, well onside and reacting quicker than the defenders, to stab the ball into the net and treat his adoring crowd to that trademark goal celebration.
Portuguese Bruno Fernandes capped the afternoon with the best strike of the game, capitalising with a long-range effort as the Newcastle defence backed off him. And when Lingard finished off an excellent team move in stoppage time, it was a reminder that this club will always be about more than one man.
Manchester United travel to play Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday evening before going away to West Ham in the Premier League next Sunday.
Newcastle are back in Premier League action a little sooner than that when they host Leeds United at St James’ Park on Friday night.