Cristiano " 🐐" Ronaldo stole the show in is EPL return
Manchester United has had a good start to the season, but the results and the game on the pitch were not what was talked about in the run-up to today's showdown between Manchester United and Newcastle. Club legend Cristiano Ronaldo was back in the red jersey 12 years after switching to Real Madrid, the
Portuguese was involved from the start and every time he was near the ball, cheers erupted from the stands. He also came up with two finishes during the first ten minutes of the match, but none of them got Freddie Woodman tested in the visitors' goal.
After 18 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defense allowed Raphaël Varane to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors.
Despite the impressive offensive that the home team put up with, there was also a lot of sloppiness in the play. It took advantage of the guests, and especially Allan Saint-Maximin, to come up with a number of offers they did not manage to turn into the great scoring opportunity.
In the first half's overtime came the goal that everyone had been waiting for. Mason Greenwood sent a finish off from the edge of the box, but instead of grabbing the ball that was right on him, Woodman sent the ball straight into the feet of Ronaldo, who kicked it over the line and made it 1-0, which also was the position at the break.
Newcastle could no longer just stand in their defensive and pull time and they came out well for the second half. The good start was also rewarded with an equalizer after ten minutes. Miguel Almirón drove the ball forward in a conversion and found Saint-Maximin. Varane tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors' defense got the best of this rather direct style of play. But all the time he needed, the Spaniards did not fail, and he sent the ball over to the long goal corner.
However, Ronaldo was far from finished, and just minutes after equalization, the Portuguese again brought the home team ahead. Manchester United got the game well out of the pressure and it gave Luke Shaw room to propel the ball forward. Shaw played Ronaldo free in depth and the Portuguese created space for him to finish. Finishing went through the legs of Woodman, who again did not look good, and then suddenly stood 2-1.
The match wavered back and forth and a few minutes later Newcastle were close to equalizing again. Joelinton made room for himself after 26 minutes, as a result of David de Gea's awkward, but ultimately successful, shot from the right.
Instead of an equalizer, we got a decision ten minutes ahead of time. Bruno Fernandes did not want to let the compatriot steal all of tomorrow's substitutes, so when he got time and space, he took the chance far from outside. The Portuguese hit the ball perfectly, and it sailed into goal with no chance for Woodman on the line, and then it was 3-1 at Old Trafford.
We got another Manchester goal to go home on when Jesse Lingard finished a good attack. Anthony Martial jumped right over a smart pass from Pogba into the box, and when it ended at the feet of Lingard, he did not hesitate. The English national team player just got the ball ready for his right leg, and then he curled it in behind a chanceless goalkeeper.
With the 4-1 victory, Manchester goes up to the first place in the Premier League with ten points, while Newcastle remains below the relegation line.