London — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first time of the season as Manchester United got back on track in the Europa League with a 2-0 victory at Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.
Ronaldo had gone seven games without scoring this season until United’s forward converted a penalty against Moldova’s champions in the first half.
It was the 37-year-699th old’s goal for his club, but Ronaldo’s low-key celebration was consistent with United’s third consecutive away triumph.
This was the type of unglamorous match Ronaldo hoped to avoid when he unsuccessfully attempted to leave Manchester United for a Champions League club in the summer.
However, the Portugal star will be relieved to have scored after Jadon Sancho put United in front with a well-timed response on the day he was left out of the England squad.
United’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad in their opening Group E meeting on Thursday was overshadowed by the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
This left Erik ten Hag’s squad with no room for mistake in Chisinau, but they were up to the challenge against a Sheriff side who stunned Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League group stage last season.
United’s first trip to Moldova came as a bitter reminder of their weakened status following their failure to qualify for the Champions League previous season.
Due to the war in neighboring Ukraine, UEFA decided Sheriff’s home field in Transnistria to be too unsafe, therefore the match was shifted 40 kilometers to the dismal surroundings of the tiny Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau.
David De Gea’s remark prior to the game that United “should be playing Champions League” included a tinge of arrogance, although Ten Hag acknowledged Sheriff as “a serious and decent opponent.”
Ten Hag selected a formidable lineup, and Sancho, one of five substitutions, scored United’s first significant assault in the 17th minute.
Sancho scores a goal
Sancho reminded Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate of his talent just hours after learning he would not be selected for England’s Nations League matches.
Taking Christian Eriksen’s ball in stride, Sancho changed direction inside the Sheriff area, creating space for a cool finish from 12 yards out into the bottom corner.
After a poor first season following his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, Sancho is beginning to bloom, and he recently celebrated his third goal of the season by holding up one of a set of personalized shin pads presented to him by a little fan.
Stjepan Radeljic cleared Sancho’s attempt off the goal line in the 39th minute, but United still extended their lead to 2-0.
Patrick Kpozo took down Diogo Dalot, and Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty kick with ease.
United continues to trail group leaders Real Sociedad by three points after their 2-1 victory over Omonia Nicosia.
Ander Guevara gave Sociedad the lead in the 30th minute, while former Crystal Palace forward Alexander Sorloth scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute after Bruno had tied the game eight minutes earlier.
Ferencvaros defeated Monaco 1-0 thanks to Balint Vecsei’s goal in the 79th minute to climb to the top of Group H after Trabzonspor defeated Red Star Belgrade 2-1.
Michael Gregoritsch scored twice as Freiburg cruised to a 3-0 victory over Olympiacos, while Qarabag defeated Nantes 3-0.
In Group F, Midtjylland stunned Lazio 5-1 with a dominating performance.
Paulinho, Sory Kaba, Evander, Gustav Isaksen, and Erik Sviatchenko scored for the Danish club; Sergej Milinkovic-consolation Savic’s goal for the humiliated Serie A club was of no help.
Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored a hat-trick in Feyenoord’s 6-0 rout of Sturm Graz to lead the group.