Europa League: Ronaldo scores as Man United return to wining ways; Roma sweep aside Helsinki
Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the first time this season as Manchester United got their Europa League campaign back on track with a 2-0 win against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.
Ronaldo had gone seven games without a goal this term before the United striker converted a first half penalty against the Moldovan champions, grabbing his 699th club goal.
Jadon Sancho put United ahead 17 minutes into the game with a well-timed response on the day he was left out of the England squad.
United lost their opening Group E match 1-0 against Real Sociedad last Thursday in a match overshadowed by the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
United remain three points behind group leaders Real Sociedad, who won 2-1 against Omonia Nicosia.
Sociedad took the lead through Ander Guevara in the 30th minute and former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth bagged the 80th minute winner after Bruno equalised eight minutes earlier.
Andrea Belotti scored his first Roma goal to cap their 3-0 win against 10-man HJK Helsinki at the Stadio Olimpico.
Jose Mourinho’s side suffered a shock 2-1 loss against Ludogorets in their Group C opener, but they were always in control after HJK captain Miro Tenho was sent off in the 15th minute for a professional foul on Belotti.
Paulo Dybala took just 69 seconds to break the deadlock after coming on at halftime as he fired home from the edge of the area.
Lorenzo Pellegrini chested in the second goal after 49 minutes, with former Torino forward Belotti tapping home in the 68th minute.
In Group A, Bodo/Glimt beat FC Zurich 2-1 to take top spot with Arsenal’s game against PSV Eindhoven postponed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Surprise Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Braga as Vitor Oliveira’s 77th minute goal settled the Group D tie.
In Group F, Midtjylland powered to a stunning 5-1 rout of Lazio, while Feyenoord’s Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh hit a hat-trick in their 6-0 demolition of Sturm Graz.
All the Matchday 2 results
Group A: Arsenal P-P PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimt 2-1 Zürich
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 AEK Larnaca, Rennes 2-2 Fenerbahçe
Group C: Real Betis 3-2 Ludogorets, Roma 3-0 HJK Helsinki
Group D: St Gilloise 3-2 Malmö, Braga 1-0 Union Berlin
Group E: Real Sociedad 2-1 Omonoia, Sheriff 0-2 Man United
Group F: Midtjylland 5-1 Lazio, Feyenoord 6-0 Sturm Graz
Group G: Olympiacos 0-3 Freiburg, Qarabağ 3-0 Nantes
Group H: Trabzonspor 2-1 Crvena zvezda, Monaco 0-1 Ferencváros
