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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Come on you boys in blue!
Up da dubs.
Jesus, looks like just saying you support the Dubs is enough to get you red thumbed. Anyway, everyone hates us but we don’t care. COYBIB!!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
Come on Kerry. Anyone But Dublin
Fantastic display from the Dubs,welcome home Sam!
Come on the dubs!!!
Come on you boys, come on you boys in blue!!!
Who are the 4 muppets on RTE 2 arguing over nothing?
I know!! Everybody wants to see the best play in a final and a Kerry v Dublin is like The Spanish El Clasico!!!
Did they lube the pitch up with baby oil before this match? Shlippin’ and shlidin’ all over the place
Come on Dublin.
Tis a slipping and sliding match.
When I seen the photograph of the woman and baby accompanying this article I thought it was going to be another migrant/refugee story!
It’s a refugee free day!! Beer and maybe a leg over later if Dublin win!!
I’m off the drink but I’ll take you up on the offer of the leg over.
Might be some consolation after the hiding Tipperary got in the minor game
worst allireland final in my living memory. Very very poor.
Puke.
The boys on RTE just after mentioning how both teams have played limited division 1 opposition,to put that into perspective Donegal who were knocked out of the championship in the Q/F have played more Div 1 teams than both Kerry and Dublin combined.
They won’t get any all-stars either despite the lop-sided draw they came through. Perhaps Durcan – had a terrific year.
It’s a very unfair system. Ulster teams get a raw deal there’s no disputing that
Best team won in the end.
Dublin have the better squad, Kerry have the better management. Kerry by 2.
Jack Kerry are not that strong !!!
…Stick to the day job Michael
Na I work nights
Looking like the Dubs having the better on the sideline as well so far, cooper bring dragged up and down the field and o Sullivan getting in on the scoring Gooch too far out from the goals
Wouldn’t completely agree, Kerry’s shooting has been absolutely woeful. When playing Dublin you have to take your chances. 8 wides(?) in 35 minutes is inexcusable in an AIF,
Congrats Dublin, the better side on the day
They should get rid of them clowns up in the studio and stick O’se and Whelao up there.
Come on utd
Carney already has O’Donoghue as his man of the match..
Never understood why they call it football. It should be called handball.
Because the foot kicks the ball? Derp!
Because it’s played on foot! The same reason Association Football is called football, American football is called football and rugby is called rugby football. The more you know *spreads hands in star motion*
Good game so far considering the conditions.
A.B.D
Deserved victory for Dublin, adapted to the conditions better and were unquestionably the better team on the day..faif pay to them..poor quality final..poor championsip.. (from the perspective of a neutral)
Well done best team won in the end to be honest it should hav been a bigger margin and they really should have three in a row by now by far the best team over the last three to four years.
Well done boys!! Up the Dubs!!
Martin carney is getting worried that Dublin might actually win
Dublin being a bit wasteful early on when they’re in shooting distance of a goal
Looks like donaghy is togged to start?????. Let the games begin
Get Paul Flynn off the pitch and this game would be put to bed.
I must have been at a different match . Paul Flynn was my man of the match