Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Man U: CR7 nets twice in first game back with Manchester United

Simon Borg

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Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Man U: CR7 nets twice in first game back with Manchester United image

Cristiano Ronaldo will have to settle for two goals on his return to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Portuguese star scored the Red Devils’ first two goals on their way to a 4-1 triumph over Newcastle United in Ronaldo’s first action for the club since his $28 million transfer acquisition from Juventus in August.

Ronaldo was thrown right into the starting lineup in a game that had the feel of a major occasion at Old Trafford, where he last appeared in a Manchester United shirt back in May 2009. He didn’t disappoint the sell-out crowd on hand.

The Manchester United No. 7 poached his first goal just before halftime after the Newcastle goalkeeper spilled a shot and Ronaldo was at the doorestep to push the ball over the line. After Newcastle scored a surprise equalizer in the 56th minute, Ronaldo got his team back in front with a patented Ronaldo goal: He beat his defender one-on-one and fired a searing left-footed ball under the goalkeeper.

Manchester United cruised for the rest of the game against a tiring Newcastle side that allowed Bruno Fernandes all the time he wanted to pick out the corner for a third goal. And then the Red Devils turned on the style with a well-worked fourth goal in stoppage time. A Paul Pogba pass was dummied by Anthony Martial to substitute Jesse Lingard, who applied a classy finish in the box.

MORE: Why Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus for Manchester United

There was a different feel about this Manchester United team with Ronaldo in the lineup, and the rest of the Premier League challengers will be on notice. If Manchester United was considered a title contender before his arrival, it might soon be the favorite if Ronaldo can keep up the goal-scoring exploits. 

Manchester United vs. Newcastle United final score

  1H 2H Final
Manchester United 1 3 4
Newcastle United 0 1 1

Goals:
MANU — Cristiano Ronaldo — 47th+ min.
NEW —  Javier Manquillo (Allan Saint-Maximin) — 56th min.
MANU —  Cristiano Ronaldo (Luke Shaw) — 62nd min.
MANU —  Bruno Fernandes — 80th min.
MANU —  Jesse Lingard (Paul Pogba) — 92nd min.

(All times Eastern)

Final: Manchester United 4, Newcastle United 1

Final: Newcastle United's defense held strong for nearly the entire first half, frustrating Manchester United and limiting its chances. But it wasn't quite good enough after the 'keeper gifted Ronaldo his first goal before the halftime whistle. Manchester United was far from scintillating to start the second half, and Newcastle got its equalizer on a well-worked transition, but then another magical moment from Ronaldo settled the nerves and the result was never in question again. This was a game that Manchester United would have found a way to draw last in recent seasons. Ronaldo's goals are now the difference.

92nd min.: Goal Manchester United! An Anthony Martial dummy allows a Paul Pogba pass to reach Jesse Lingard in the box and he applies the classy finish.

90th min.: Three minutes of stoppage time. The Red Devils have this one in the bag.

85th min.: SUBS - Man United bring on Donny Van de Beek for Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial for Mason Greenwood. Jeff Hendrick comes on for Newcastle's Joe Willock.

80th min.: Goal Manchester United! Bruno Fernandes all alone 20 yards from goal and he has the time to pick out the top left corner. What a goal from Fernandes. Newcastle is running out of gas and it showed on that play.

77th min.: SUB - Newcastle bring on Jacob Murphy in place of the goal scorer Javier Manquillo. The Magpies are still in this one.

72nd min.: Match has hit a bit of a lull. Manchester United seems content to keep the ball. But nothing incisive in recent minutes.

67th min.: Newcastle is not done! Joelinton enters the box from the left and blasts a shot that De Gea has to punch away for a corner, which amounts to nothing.

66th min.: SUB - Jesse Lingard comes on for Jadon Sancho, who had a quiet game. Meanwhile, a Manchester United corner finds Raphael Varane, but nothing comes of it.

62nd min.: The tie didn't last long. It's Ronaldo again! Luke Shaw in transition feeds the returning hero, who beats his defender and fires a left-footed shot under the 'keeper. Two goals on his return. Wow. Man United up 2-1.

58th min.: Newcastle come close again! Almiron nearly connects with Saint-Maximin on a cross in the Manchester United box. Almiron is having a strong game.

56th min.: Goal Newcastle! Both Almiron and Saint-Maximin get on the ball and the latter serves it perfectly for an unmarked Javier Manquillo who fires home. It's 1-1!

52nd min.: It's the same script of the first half so far: Man United looking for a way through, and Newcastle trying to relieve pressure with some sustained possession. When the Magpies get Miguel Almiron or Allan Saint-Maximin on the ball, they're more dangerous and unpredictable going forward.

46th min.: The second half is underway. No changes.

Halftime: Manchester United 1, Newcastle United 0

Halftime: Manchester United was the better team to start, but the match grew more evenly matched as the minutes went by. Newcastle was organized on defense and Man United only got three shots on goal. Ronaldo was active early, but then the touches waned and when they did come, Newcastle were all over him. The put-back on a spilled shot is exactly the type of goal that first half deserved. Pressure's off on Ronaldo and Manchester United. 

47th+ min.: Goal Ronaldo! And just when it looked like the half was destined to end 0-0, a Mason Greenwood shot was spilled by the goalkeeper and there was Ronaldo who took the gift and poked home the rebound.

45th min.: Two minutes of stoppage time. No one expected Newcastle to hold Manchester United for this long.

39th min.: Ronaldo double-teamed and his shot in the box is stuffed. Ball bounces out to Fernandes, but nothing comes of his cross into the box.

38th min.: Newcastle center back Jamaal Lascelles bumps Ronaldo off the ball on one instance and then a few minutes later clears a ball in the box before it can get to Ronaldo.

33rd min.: Ronaldo is lurking, but he's not been nearly as involved as he was in the opening stages of the match. Newcastle has settled into the match nicely. The Magpies are defending deep, but they're not scrambling just yet.

30th min.: Bruno Fernandes attempts to make up for it with a shot from outside the box that Jadon Sancho nearly deflects on goal. Ball finishes wide.

28th min.: What a chance for Newcastle! Bruno Fernandes is dispossessed in his own half, but Joe Willock fires high from the right side of the box instead of passing it.

27th min.: Newcastle's goalkeeper gets a talking to from the referee for time wasting. Newcastle is milking every second on dead balls, including on this particular goal kick.

26th min.: Not to be outshone by his compatriot, Bruno Fernandes attempts an audacious 35-yard shot lob over the 'keeper but it finishes over the target. He's serenaded by the Old Trafford crowd.

23rd min.: Newcastle gaining in confidence when they're in Manchester United's half. First Miguel Almiron and then Matt Ritchie fire shots without hesitation. The last one was Ritchie's and David de Gea has to dive to stop it.

19th min.: A Varane header off a corner kick finishes wide right. That was dangerous.

17th min.: Ronaldo keeping it simple, making quick connecting passes when he's not in the vicinity of the penalty area.

16th min.: Manchester United's buzzing start has now fizzled out some. Newcastle getting some spells of possession in the Manchester half.

11th min.: Ronaldo again! He runs at the Newcastle defense down the left side of the box but the shot hits the side netting. He senses the occasion.

9th min.: Ronaldo attempts a half-volley in the box from a tight angle after Ciaran Clark's header stays up in the air. It goes wide, but that was a tough shot.

7th min.: Newcastle's No. 7 Joelinton puts Man United's Varane under pressure, wins the ball and fires a weak shot at goal. He should've done better. Newcastle won't get many of those looks.

5th min.: It's all Manchester United to start here. Ronaldo got close to a ball in the box, but no clear looks just yet.

1st min.: We're off!

9:56 a.m.: The players have already taken the field to start the match:

9:49 a.m.: Ronaldo received a loud ovation when he stepped out onto the field for warmups:

9:12 a.m.: And it's confirmed: Ronaldo in the starting lineup:

8:27 a.m.: Coming off the team bus:

7:59 a.m.: The match program cover for today's match:

7:50 a.m.: He's definitely stopping to give autographs.

6:33 a.m.: Chance to bust out the old Ronaldo jerseys for the big game:

6:10 a.m.: Yeah, they're excited in Manchester:

5:54 a.m.: A grand return no one saw coming just a couple weeks back is about to happen:

Manchester United vs. Newcastle United: Starting lineups

Cristiano Ronaldo starts, but  Edinson Cavani is not in the squad. Jadon Sancho was a doubt with a knock picked up while with England, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed he was good to go and he gets the start.

MORE: Why Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus for Man United

Scott McTominay and Alex Telles are not ready for selection just yet, and Marcus Rashford is still out due to shoulder surgery. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is making his way back from the after-effects of COVID-19, but he got the start for the Under-23s along with Phil Jones . 

Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): 1-David de Gea-GK — 23-Luke Shaw, 5-Harry Maguire, 19-Raphael Varane, 29-Aaron Wan-Bissaka — 31-Nemanja Matic, 6-Paul Pogba — 25-Jadon Sancho, 18-Bruno Fernandes, 11-Mason Greenwood — 7-Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United subs (9): 22-Tom Heaton-GK, 2-Victor Lindelof, 3-Eric Bailly, 20-Diogo Dalot, 17-Fred, 34-Donny Van de Beek, 14-Jesse Lingard, 8-Juan Mata, 9-Anthony Martial

Newcastle United will be missing midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (calf), forward Callum Wilson (thigh), midfielder Ryan Fraser (ankle), and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (foot) due to injury. Goalkeeper  Karl Darlow ,   who has been in training for some time after a bout with COVID-19, is on the bench.

Newcastle United starting lineup (3-4-3, left to right): 27-Freddie Woodman-GK — 6-Jamaal Lascelles, 2-Ciaran Clark, 14-Isaac Hayden — 11-Matt Ritchie, 36-Sean Longstaff, 28-Joe Willock, 19-Javier Manquillo — 10-Allan Saint-Maximin, 24-Miguel Almiron, 7-Joelinton

Newcastle United subs (9): 26-Karl Darlow-GK, 18-Federico Fernandez, 5-Fabian Schar, 17-Emil Krafth, 12-Jamal Lewis, 23-Jacob Murphy,  16-Jeff Hendrick, 36-Joe White, 34-Dwight Gayle

How to watch Ronaldo's debut in the USA

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 11
  • Time: 10 a.m. ET
  • TV channel: USA Network
  • Spanish-language TV: Universo
  • Streaming: fuboTV

Ronaldo's first official match back for Manchester United will come at home against Newcastle United in a match that will be televised by USA Network (English) and Universo (Spanish). Both channels are streamed on  fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial .

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.