Cristiano Ronaldo did the inevitable and scored twice on his Manchester United return, 4,507 days after he left the club
Getty/Martin Rickett
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his Manchester United return as it beat Newcastle United 4-1.
- The Portuguese opened the scoring just ahead of half-time before netting again after the break.
- Ronaldo re-joined United last month, 12 years after he left the club for Real Madrid.
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his Manchester United return as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side beat Newcastle United 4-1 to maintain its unbeaten start to the English Premier League season.
Ronaldo, who re-joined United on transfer deadline day, opened the scoring at Old Trafford just before half-time when he tapped in Mason Greenwood's spilled shot from close range.
-NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 11, 2021
He celebrated in trademark fashion, jumping in the air and screaming "SIU!" as he landed - a shout that was echoed in full force by the United fans.
Full-back Javier Manquillo equalized for the visitors after the break. However, Ronaldo wasn't to be denied his dream return, driving home his second through the legs of Magpies keeper Freddie Woodman just four minutes later.
Bruno Fernandes then hit a stunning strike from outside the box to make it 3-1 before Jesse Lingard completed the scoring in injury time with a fine curled effort.
United is now top of the Premier League table, having won three and drawn one of its opening four matches.
-NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 11, 2021
Ronaldo's second United debut came 4,507 days since he first left the club for Real Madrid in 2009.
In his first spell at Old Trafford, which lasted six seasons, the Portuguese star scored 118 goals in 292 matches, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
He went on to score 450 goals in 438 games for Madrid before moving to Juventus in 2018, where he scored 101 times in three seasons before sealing a sensational return to United in August.
More to follow.