Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Manchester United in the Uefa Champions League yet again as his injury-time equaliser dragged them to a 2-2 draw at Atalanta away in Italy
Two moments of magic from the 36-year-old, whose goals alone have now earned United five of their seven Champions League points, earned them a point they barely deserved to remain top of Group F, and able to qualify for the last 16 with victory over Villarreal in their next match.
Josip Ilicic fired Atalanta ahead from Duvan Zapata’s cross, with help from David de Gea’s fumble of the Slovenian’s relatively straightforward effort.
United levelled when Bruno Fernandes’ perfect backheel teed up Ronaldo to take a touch and beat Juan Musso from eight yards.
Jose Palomino caught out the United defence and found Zapata just onside, but, after beating De Gea at his near post, he was made to wait more than two minutes for a VAR review to overturn the linesman’s initial raised flag.
Ronaldo brilliance in injury-time saw the veteran find the bottom corner with a 20-yard volley to earn another spectacular last-gasp result.
Ronaldo has scored in all his side’s group games this season, netting late winners against Villarreal and at home to Atalanta, before his double at a lively Gewiss Stadium.
It was his 127th goal in 303 games in all competitions for Manchester United and he becomes the oldest player to score two or more in one game for the club in European competition.
The 36-year-old is also the first player to score in four consecutive Champions League appearances for the club since Ruud van Nistelrooy in April 2003.
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