Ronaldo breaks Villarreal’s hearts in injury time of record match

Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 10:55 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 22:59

Manchester United recorded a spectacular victory over Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The mutual duel seemed to end in 1-1, just like in last season’s Europa League final, but Cristiano Ronaldo decided otherwise in the fifth minute of injury time. The attacker, who played his 178th Champions League game and thus holds the record, broke the hearts of Villarreal, who started the game strongly. Arnaut Danjuma played a magnificent first half hour and provided the assist for the opening goal, after which Alex Telles made the 1-1 with a Sunday shot.

Danjuma had a base place at Villarreal, while Donny van de Beek was on the bench at Manchester United. The first serious chances of the game were for Danjuma, who saw David de Gea make two saves. Once Danjuma shot straight at the keeper; on his second try, in the tenth minute, De Gea reached out to keep a well-placed shot from the far corner. Not much later, Danjuma sprinted past Diogo Dalot and sent a tight cross to Paco Alcácer, whose header was tapped over the crossbar by a reflex from De Gea.

Danjuma also distinguished himself halfway through the first half with a transfer after a corner, with which he initiated a shooting opportunity for Alberto Moreno (over). It was clear that Villarreal dominated and Manchester United were in control. Danjuma was the most dangerous man among the visitors in the first half hour and regularly showed Dalot his heels. After thirty minutes Alcácer had the best chance up to that point. Dalot handed in the ball in Villarreal’s half, after which the visitors were quickly on the other side and Raphaël Varane was easily trumped by Alcácer, who then shot just wide.

During the first half, Manchester United came more often in the half of Villarreal, without creating real chances. Moreno almost shot the ball into his own goal three minutes before half time, shortly after Villarreal failed to play off a promising counter. De Gea held off a low shot from Yeremi Pino before the halftime signal sounded. Eight minutes after the break, Danjuma cashed in on his performance with an assist, when he steamed up the left wing and enabled Alcacér to finish at the near post: 0-1. Villarreal could not enjoy that lead for long. When Bruno Fernandes put the ball back to Telles after a free kick from the right wing, the left back took the leather from outside the box and found the far right corner: 1-1.

Since that goal, Manchester United dominated the game, but Villarreal held out. A few minutes before the end, the visitors even got a huge chance to win the game. Much to Manchester United’s relief, De Gea turned a long shot from Moi Gómez, after which Boulaye Dia got the ball to the head from close range. With his already outstretched hand, De Gea saved again, after which the second chance for Dia also failed to produce a goal. Van de Beek stayed on the bench for the entire game at Manchester United. Danjuma completed the ninety minutes. Ronaldo was unable to make his mark for almost the entire game, but decided the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time.