CRISTIANO ROANLDO SCORED his first Champions League goal for Juventus but a stunning Manchester United comeback snatched a 2-1 win for the Premier League side to delay the Italians’ passage to the last 16 on Wednesday.
Ronaldo struck with a magnificent first-time shot on 65 minutes to seemingly leave Juve on course for the knockout phase, but Juan Mata equalised with an 86th-minute free-kick before Leonardo Bonucci turned into his own net.
Delighted United manager Jose Mourinho walked out onto the pitch at the Allianz Stadium cupping his ears and winking towards the crowd after a win that gave his side seven points from four games — two points behind leaders Juventus with two games to play in Group H.
Juventus had proved wasteful with Sami Khedira and Paulo Dybala both hitting the woodwork before five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo brought the capacity 41,470 crowd to their feet when he picked up a Bonucci cross from just inside United’s half.
It was the eighth goal this season for the 33-year-old who arrived from Real Madrid last summer in a deal estimated to cost €340 million in total over four years, on top of the €110 million transfer fee.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first Juventus goal in the @ChampionsLeague!
— Adriano Del Monte (@adriandelmonte) November 7, 2018
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/cOCJkizclT
It was also the 121st Champions League goal for Ronaldo who holds the all-time record in the European competition, and first since a 90th-minute penalty he scored for Real Madrid against Juventus in the quarter-final, second leg in Spain last April.
Massimiliano Allegri had urged his side to seal their first objective of the season of reaching the last 16, and a draw would have been enough for this.
Ronaldo was backed up by Juan Cuadrado and Dybala, who scored the only goal in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, up front with returning Khedira starting in midfield as World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi started on the bench.
- United ride luck -
Manchester United were without injured forward Romelu Lukaku with Alexis Sanchez taking his place alongside Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial.
World Cup winner Paul Pogba, playing at his former club, was in midfield alongside Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic.
Ronaldo came close after five minutes when Bonucci laid it on for Dybala on the edge of the box, with the Argentinian chipping it over for Ronaldo whose volley was blocked by Victor Lindelof.
But the hosts sprung into action on the half hour with a low Cuadrado cross taking a deflection off Matic’s knee before David De Gea reacted superbly to keep the ball out.
Ronaldo then served up Khedira but the German’s low shot rattled the base of the post after 35 minutes.
United were again saved by the crossbar after the break with a curling Dybala effort flying over De Gea only to clip the bar.
But Ronaldo broke the deadlock when Bonucci curled over a pass which flew over Lindelof and straight into the path of Ronaldo who volleyed in past a helpless De Gea.
United though had the final word turning the game round in just four minutes, substitute Mata bending in a free-kick from the edge of the box to give the visitors a scarcely deserved equaliser.
Juve were then left in shock as Ashley Young’s free-kick in from the left bounced in off a combination of Bonucci and Sandro after a frantic scramble in front of goal, condemning them to their first defeat this season.
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Serious atmosphere here in Cavan. This is exactly where you want to be playing the All Ireland Champions. Whatever the result these games against the top 4 will stand to us in the summer months
It’s exactly the gate the county board needed as well
Mind blowing that people would actually travel to watch that rubbish sport.
@Ordinary lad: the much “hyped” Irish Rugby team lost yesterday. How much money do those lads earn?
Mind blowing that someone would take the time to open an article about a sport they consider to be ‘rubbish’ and then take the time to comment on it.
How can a team that receives €120k in funding compete against a team that receives €1.4million
Hahaha give over Al . Deep down you love the gaa
@Alan b..: Sure all the money we’ll be spending here we’ll double that funding for you pal ;)
a decent workout so far get rid of the Jamaican rum and redstripe against another nordie team who’s sole intention is to pull drag and hit off the ball.
Don’t know what game your watching. The hits off the ball have been 50:50.
Eh cavan is in the south of Ireland Einstein
fergal reilly should count himself lucky to share a pitch with these wonderful dublin footballers instead of going around like a drunk at a wedding looking for a fight.
That was stared by the Dublin man on the ground. You’re incredibly anti ulster football
And then mdma was the first man to get involved.
And who look for a figth at a wedding
ah lorcan stop it now.
fergal reilly would.
it’s north of me ya tit
@Alan b..: that explains why the dubs were late they looked at a map and headed north. When did this geographical transplant take place.
don’t be a tit like alan cavan play in ulster which is up north so they are nordies.
Cavan is not in Northern Ireland you don’t cross the border or use sterling
I didn’t say it was in Northern Ireland .
What do you mean by nordie then?if you are calling them that cos they’re north of you does that mean someone from cork would class Dublin as a nordie team
if they wanted to yes beacuse they would be northern to a Cork person now cavan is in ulster and part of the Republic of Ireland beacuse the brits didn’t want the kip so yes you are nordies which we where stuck with.
Stop you’re just embarrassing yourself
What part of Dublin are you from?
what difference does it make?
cavan play in the ulster champions with the other 8 nordie counties it’s no big deal just accept it is the way it is don’t be embarrassed alan.
All the complaints about dublins fans. Have any other county brought a few thousand fans with them today ?
@Gavin Byrne: In comparison Dublin have a fan base of about 10 times what other counties have. So of course they will bring large numbers with them.
Fair play today they really brought a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of money to Cavan town today
That a few time in the last three years the cavan has been delayed because of the fans.
If the dubs can’t make it to croke park on time how do you expect them to make it to cavan on time
@Lorcán Coyle: Should know by now that nothing in Cavan ever starts on time, nearest fifteen minutes, sure that’ll do.!!!
Ref jersey looks too like Dubs
We’ll save that excuse for later
Massive achievement if Roscommon can some how stay up in Division 1.
Lorcan are u watching the match