Sancho and Ronaldo’s second-half goals ensured Man United beat Villarreal 2-0 and qualify for the Round of 16 with a game to spare
Atalanta scored in the dying minutes of their game against Young Boys, to stay third and retain the chance of qualifying from Group F
By Kehinde Okeowo
Man United needed two second-half goals to beat a resolute Spanish side, Villarreal,
at Estadio la Ceramica Stadium to qualify for the round of 16 and remain firmly in control of Group F.
The game ended goalless in the first half with the home side having more ball possession but United had more goal mouth actions.
Villarreal continued to dominate ball possession in the second half but United became increasingly threatening and eventually scored in the 78th minute.
A defensive blunder by Geronimo Rulli, cost his team as Ronaldo took advantage and excellently lobbed the ball over the keeper to give United a 1-0 lead.
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The home side became desperate in search of an equaliser and this gave United the needed impetus to counter, whenever Villarreal lost possession.
United ultimately made the game more secured deep into the second half when Jadon Sancho scored in the 90th minute from a pass from Bruno Fernardes to make it 2-0 to United.
The German referee, Felix Brych, thereafter, brought proceedings to an end after adding four extra minutes to the match.
Meanwhile, Italian Club, Atalanta, lost their lead twice to Young Boys to draw the game 3-3 in the other UEFA Champions League (UCL ) match of the group.
Duvan Zapata put the away side ahead after scoring from a pass from Remo Freuler in the 10th minute.
They were pegged back when Jordan Siebatcheu scored from a pass from Micheal Aebischer in the 39th minute to end the first half 1-1.
Atalanta went ahead again through Jose Luiz Palomino in the 51st minute but the home side equalized again in the 81st minute when Vincent Siero made it 2-2.
Young Boys capped a remarkable comeback with a third goal, 3 minutes later, when Silvan Hefti scored from an assist from Micheal Aebischer, giving the home side a 3-2 lead.
Luiz Muriel equalized for Atalanta in the 88th minute to silence the home crowd and end the game 3-3.
