Late Show Give United Memorable Win In Turin
By Onogwu Muhammed
Two late goals gave Manchester United a memorable 2-1 comeback victory over Juventus in the Champions League group stage.
Former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Champions League goal for Juventus to put the hosts in front, hitting a superbly-timed volley past David de Gea (65) from inside the box following Leonardo Bonucci's ball.
But Juan Mata equalised for United with four minutes remaining with a fine dipping free-kick from 20 yards, before former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba helped bundle the ball over the line via Alex Sandro for an own goal in the 90th minute.
The result means United's knockout qualification hopes are in their own hands, sitting second in Group H with seven points, two behind leaders Juventus and two above Valencia.
United looked solid for the first half an hour as neither side created a clear-cut chance, but the first opportunity fell to Juventus as Juan Cuadrado's cross from the right of the box deflected off Nemanja Matic, forcing De Gea into a sharp save.
A minute later, Ronaldo's fine cut back from the right fell to Sami Khedira, but he hooked his right-footed effort from 12 yards against the outside of the post with De Gea stranded.
After the break, Anthony Martial struck just wide with a curling effort from 20 yards, while at the other end Juventus hit the woodwork again through Paulo Dybala's shot just inside the box in space.
He had been quiet up to this point, but Ronaldo became centre of attention on 65 minutes, collecting a deep Bonucci ball over his shoulder and volleying brilliantly past De Gea from 12 yards.
Ronaldo, who spent six years at Old Trafford, did not hold back in his celebrations, but did wave in respect to the United fans after scoring.
Dybala nearly added a second, denied by De Gea's outstretched hand, and Cuadrado fluffed his chance to wrap up the game from 12 yards, blazing over after Ronaldo's unselfish centre.
However, out of nowhere, United fought back for the three points, equalising as Mata hit a fine free-kick over the wall after Wojciech Szczesny had taken a step to the opposite side.
They got their winner in the 90th minute from Ashley Young's wicked free-kick cross, causing mayhem at the far post as Pogba's touch came off Sandro and over the line.
Jose Mourinho celebrated at full time by cupping his ears to the Juventus crowd, which upset some of the home players, before being ushered off the pitch.
Juventus have lost a UEFA Champions League group stage home game for the first time since December 2009 (versus Bayern Munich), ending a 19-game unbeaten run (W11 D8).
Manchester United have won more away Champions League matches at Juventus than any other side have in the history of the competition (3).
Manchester United have come back to win a UEFA Champions League game with two goals in the final five minutes of a match for the first time since the 1999 final vs Bayern Munich.
Manchester United's Juan Mata has scored his first Champions League goal since netting against VfL Wolfsburg in September 2015, ending a run of 11 appearances in the competition without a goal.
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo ended a drought of 20 shots and 453 minutes without a goal in the UEFA Champions League, with his opening goal against Manchester United in this match.
Lindelof was the man of the match.
Alongside Chris Smalling, Lindelof put in a fine showing to keep Juventus at bay for the majority of the game making a team-high eight clearances and losing the ball only four times, less than any of the starting XI
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