KEY POINTS

  • Ronaldo and Telles scored for Man Utd in their 2-1 win
  • It was Man Utd's first win in the CL this season
  • Ronaldo has scored 5 goals in 6 matches for Man Utd

Cristiano Ronaldo equaled former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero’s record in the Champions League with his late strike in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Villarreal on Wednesday.

In what was the repeat of last season’s Europa League final, which was won by the Spanish side, Manchester United were going towards a disappointing draw before Old Trafford erupted as their No. 7 recorded an extra-time winner.

Ronaldo’s 95th-minute strike, which was assisted by young Jesse Lingard, was the Portuguese star’s third game-winning goal in the Champions League after the 90th minute, putting him level with current Barcelona forward Aguero, according to Opta Joe.

The Villarreal game on Wednesday was Ronaldo’s 178th Champions League appearance and with that, the former Real Madrid star overtook his ex-skipper Iker Casillas as the player with the most appearances in the competition history.

At 36 years and 236 days, Ronaldo became the second oldest Manchester United player to score a Champions League goal after Bryan Robson (36 years and 282 days).

The Portuguese superstar has had a flying start to his second spell at Manchester United since returning to Old Trafford earlier this summer. His first stint with the club happened between 2003 and 2009. The goal against Villarreal was his fifth in the sixth appearance for the Red Devils this season.

After the thrilling 2-1 win against the Spanish club, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praises on Ronaldo, saying he always knows his team has a chance with Ronaldo on the field.

"That’s what happens here at Old Trafford. 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," Solskjaer told MUTV.

Cristiano Ronaldo's winner for Manchester United against Villarreal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time
Cristiano Ronaldo's winner for Manchester United against Villarreal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time AFP / Anthony Devlin

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s compatriot Bruno Fernandes feels the duo of Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial are as important as the former Juventus forward for the Red Devils this season.

"They are the strikers who have the feeling for the goal. They feel it and Cristiano did it once again, and he will do it more and more in the current season. He and Edi and Anthony will be really important for us because they will score many, many goals," said Fernandes.

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