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Man Utd 2 Brighton 0: Cristiano Ronaldo ends nightmare goal drought in style before Bruno Fernandes wraps up win
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RALF RANGNICK said he had grown tired of Manchester United’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde performances.
But this time Cristiano Ronaldo provided the perfect antidote to avoid another horror show.
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It was the first half that had disappointed on this occasion, but in the 51st minute, Ronaldo dug deep into the vaults to produce one of his classic moments on a night when the veteran could have had a hat-trick.
When Brighton’s captain Lewis Dunk was sent off three minutes later Man Utd had looked to have an advantage even they weren’t going to let go this time.
But it is not that straightforward anymore and Jakub Molder would hit the bar before former United striker Danny Welbeck put a free header over in the last minute of the 90 as Brighton nearly stole a share of the points.
Then, in the sixth minute of seven added on, from a quick break Bruno Fernandes slotted home a second.
United, who are feeling the pressure at the minute, had looked rattled from the start with a loose ball by Fred providing Brighton with the first chance of the game after just five minutes.
Nobody was quite sure who the pass was meant for but Pascal Gross picked it up and fed Moder.
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David de Gea had his angles right and blocked his shot at the near post.
It was catching because when Adam Webster tried to control a long punt at the other end he completely miscontrolled and only managed to flick the ball onto Ronaldo who was running back from an offside position.
Ronaldo was away and while Webster got back the Portuguese star played a clever backheel to Jadon Sancho whose shot was also saved at the near post.
Rangnick had said before the game that Sancho was getting the form back which made him such a sensation in the Bundesliga and there is a growing threat coming from those quick feet every time he is on the ball.
He was involved in a good build-up that saw Anthony Elanga charge into the box but the tackle from Marc Cucurella was perfectly timed.
Brighton came into the match full of confidence on an unbeaten run of seven in the league.
Like most visitors nowadays they did not look daunted by a trip to Old Trafford.
United meanwhile were all over the place at the back again.
They were not helped by a late reshuffle when Raphael Varane was taken ill an hour before the game and replaced by Victor Lindelof.
It was Lindelof who looked lost when the best chance of the half came Brighton’s way.
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The cross from Joel Veltman was perfect and Alexis Mac Allister rose highest to send a thumping a header towards the top left hand corner - only for David De Gea to pull off an incredible save as he clawed the ball away.
It is just as well he is on top form this season or goodness knows where United would be.
United were looking a shambles earlier than normal in a game and when Brighton had another effort this time from Yves Bissouma that went just wide the boos started to ring out.
They needed to provide a quick response after the break and it came.
There is still a sprinkling of magic left in those feet of Ronaldo’s as he completely changed the mood in Old Trafford with a goal six minutes after the restart.
Credit Scott McTominay who pushed up on a dithering Bissouma, forcing the ball to spring out to Ronaldo.
Off he went, those sharp little steps taking him inside Webster before releasing a shot that gave Robert Sanchez no chance.
He charged to the corner flag in celebration with an expression more of defiance than joy.
His six-game barren spell in front of goal, his worst since 2009, now over.
Things would immediately get worse for Brighton after the restart when they were reduced to ten men – eventually.
United were pressing and trying to force mistakes.
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So when Webster squared a ball in front of his own box to Dunk, Fred anticipated and was on him nicking the ball away only for the Brighton captain to bring him down.
The United players immediately surrounded referee Peter Bankes demanding that he was the last defender and deserved a red card.
Bankes showed a yellow believing no doubt that Webster was covering but VAR Jarred Gillett told him to have another look at the screen by the side of the pitch.
After a few views, he reconciled that Webster would not have made it and yellow turned to red.
Ronaldo would have two more chances to make the game safe, one header tipped over, another he steered wide.
Then on 71 minutes, the Brighton keeper passed the ball straight to him. He squared for his Portuguese countryman Fernandes leaving him just the goalkeeper to beat.
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But his shot was too close to him, at the perfect height and Sanchez beat the ball away.
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It was at the same Stretford End that Fernandes missed a similar gift of a chance in the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough hitting the post.
This time he made up for it by sprinting away to grab a second in the last act of the game as United moved back into the top four.
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