Brilliant Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 50th career hat-trick to get Manchester United out of another massive hole.
Ladies and gentlemen, Cristiano Ronaldo. pic.twitter.com/ujTzg1fKma
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 16, 2022
A week after bringing shame on the club by smashing the phone of a young Everton fan, Ronaldo was his side’s knight in shining armour on a day of protest at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese superstar rattled in the game’s first couple of goals inside the opening 32 minutes and after United allowed the Premier League’s bottom club to fight back to 2-2, he thundered in a winning free-kick from 25 yards.
In a dreadful season for United, the 37-year-old has still managed 21 goals. Fifteen have come in the Premier League with only Mo Salah and Son Heung-Min scoring more.
It gave United’s fans something to cheer about as they closed the gap on a top-four place to three points but there were also loud dissenting protests against The Glazer ownership, both inside and outside the stadium.
Those fans who delayed their arrival to demonstrate in the concourses around Old Trafford missed a rip-roaring start.
50th club hat-trick.
21 goals for Manchester United in all competitions.
A thunderous strike from the free-kick to seal the victory.
The name is Cristiano Ronaldo. pic.twitter.com/xkbORUrp1d
— Faisal Caesar (@faisalyorker1) April 16, 2022
Teemu Pukki missed the first chance, thwarted by David de Gea, after three minutes.
But United roared back with Anthony Elanga and Cristiano Ronaldo going close before they combined to score after seven minutes.
Elanga harried Ben Gibson on the edge of the penalty area and robbed the defender of the ball before instantly crossing for Ronaldo.
From the edge of the box, the veteran finished emphatically from 18 yards before beckoning the young Swede to join in his celebration by the corner.
Interestingly, the goal only heightened the strength of feeling against the owners. “Stand up if you hate Glazers” and “We want Glazers out” was the cry.
Some fans entered the ground after 17 minutes, marking the 17-year reign of the Americans.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 60 hat-tricks in his career, the most of any active player:
Cristiano Ronaldo (60)
Lionel Messi (55)
37 years young.
pic.twitter.com/tTrkE9ybPX
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 16, 2022
United should have killed the game off. Jesse Lingard in only his third Premier League start of the season was denied by Tim Krul but the home side scored from the resulting corner in any case.
Alex Telles, deputising for the injured Luke Shaw, produced a perfect outswinger for Ronaldo to hang in the airpower in a header for 2-0.
As good as United were going forward, there were alarming gaps at the back.
Harry Maguire needed to block to stop Pierre Lees-Melou from scoring and just as they were looking forward to a half-time cuppa, they allowed a Norwich goal.
Diogo Dalot was beaten by Dimitris Giannoulis who fed Pukki. The Finn is best known as a goalscorer but on this occasion, he dinked a cross to the far post where Kieran Dowell was unmarked to head in.
15 Premier League goals this season
Where would Manchester United be in the table without Cristiano Ronaldo this season? pic.twitter.com/3WwpsvlNwR
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 16, 2022
United started the second period brightly with Ronaldo firing wide and Lingard testing Krul with a well-struck volley.
But the spaces in their backline returned to haunt them for Norwich’s equaliser after 52 minutes.
Dowell had time to put his head up and thread a pass-through to Pukki who had just kept himself onside.
The striker had a clear run on goal and his finish past De Gea was emphatic with the ball rebounding off the inside of the post and into the net.
The visitors were then unlucky not to go ahead for the first time with Milos Rashica’s strike heading to the bottom corner until De Gea stuck out a long arm to divert for a corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave his match-ball to 17-year-old Alejandro Garnacho after his 60th career-hat-trick against Norwich. pic.twitter.com/Oob0nQjsl1
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) April 16, 2022
United interim Ralf Rangnick belatedly shored up his side by sending on midfield holder Nemanja Matic for Lingard after 63 minutes.
There were boos when Paul Pogba trudged off to be replaced by Marcus Rashford.
With United’s Champions League prospects flagging, there was one final great moment from Ronaldo.
Most direct free-kicks scored in Premier League history:
David Beckham (18)
Vintage CR7.
pic.twitter.com/8kiZhncnFk
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) April 16, 2022
When United won a free-kick outside the box, for a foul on Elanga, Juan Mata looked interested but there was only going to be one taker.
Ronaldo sized up the opportunity in his trademark stance and then thundered a shot that flew past Krul and bounced in via the inside of the post.
Old Trafford temporarily forgot their hatred of The Glazers to celebrate but they know having Ronaldo on their side is only papering over some of the cracks. Norwich registered 14 shots on goal and United fans will be nervous heading to Anfield on Wednesday night.
Courtesy: Daily Mail UK