Craig Burley praises Cristiano Rojo for being a difference-maker but claims Man United have not made any progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (1:18).
MANCHESTER (England) -- Manchester United can still produce late drama.
They won a game that they should have lost 2-1 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's winner in stoppage time.
It was one night when United's No. 7 was so far from the center of the field that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might have replaced him at any time during the second-half.
He'll be happy he didn’t.
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The 36-year old was on the pitch at all times. With one swipe of his right foot in injury time in the fifth minute, it seemed like a night of boos. However, the night ended with cheers and chants of "Viva Ronaldo!"
Solskjaer's most important win was the victory by the Portuguese forward after back-toback defeats against West Ham and Aston Villa. This allowed United to get up and running in Group F for the Champions League. Three defeats in four before kick-off had closed the doors, but there is still breathing room.
Solskjaer spoke of Ronaldo afterwards, saying that he had done it so many times. He was a great player against Ireland, scoring two fantastic headers in the final minutes.
He's been doing that all his life. He keeps his game. He's so focused on this game that I have seen him every day.
Solskjaer said, "He had a few half chances but a true sign of a great finisher was that he kept calm when the opportunity arrives."
Ronaldo's intervention was late, but it did not silence United supporters who already felt Solskjaer was not the man for the job. However, the Norwegian manager proved again that he can get a result when needed.
David De Gea is as responsible as his star striker for this feat.
The first half ended with Jadon Santiago and Bruno Fernandes fighting as they walked away. This was the end of the first 45 minutes.
De Gea was asked to make three saves of world-class quality to keep the score at 0-0.
One United corner finished with visitors breaking two against one. It was only Paco Alcacer's poor pass that prevented him from making another stop.
Solskjaer spent the majority of the half racing down stairs at the home bench in an attempt to get his players to react. But it wasn't until the goal that looked certain all night came through.
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Danjuma sent Dalot running after thin air, and Alcacer crossed for the Bournemouth man to score the goal just after the half-time break.
This goal was a surprise, but it did stir some emotion in the home team. Fernandes lobbed a free kick towards Alex Telles and the Brazil fullback, in for Luke Shaw, thrashed a volley into a corner to score his first goal.
Although it wasn't Paul Scholes against Bradford, it was still skillful and executed to the best of its ability, which were two things that were lacking in the first and majority of Saturday's defeat to Aston Villa.
Sancho could have scored another goal minutes later, but Sancho lost the crucial moment.
De Gea was not done, however, and made an impressive save to stop Boulaye di bundling for Villarreal.
Solskjaer stated, "Thankfully we had the greatest goalkeeper in the whole world tonight." David was amazing. They were worthy to lead.
David has returned [after the summer] with a determination, and work ethic that I love. He got the right outcome. He saved us tonight. "We have to be realistic.
If De Gea had not been at his best Villarreal would be out of sight. Solskjaer would not have been able to argue that his team did not get what they deserved.
Instead, he was celebrating the end of the game by raising his arms in celebration at the whistle. Substitute Jesse Lingard grabbed a crucial toe on the ball and Ronaldo hit it from a tight angle in the final minute of five minutes added on.
It was Ronaldo's 12th Champions League goal in 90 minutes or less -- twice as many as any other player in competition history -- and it was Ronaldo's first game at United at Old Trafford in the tournament since the 2009 semifinal against Arsenal.
He is here to help Solskjaer's teams get back to their previous level.
