MAN UNITED 3, TOTTENHAM 2
Cristiano Ronaldo became a history maker and it the process kept alive Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four spot.
The Portuguese’s 59th career hat-trick against Tottenham, which took his career total to 807 goals to become the greatest goalscorer of all time.
Ronaldo, who took his season’s haul to 18, overhauled Josef Biscan, the Austrian whose 805 goals between 1931-55 is widely regarded as the best-ever total.
He was also the second oldest hat-trick scorer in the Premier League era at 37 years and 35 days to Teddy Sheringham (37 years 146 days).
And it was Ronaldo’s first treble for the Reds since his treble against Newcastle in January 2008.
The win lifted United back into the top four and five points clear of Spurs who are seventh but who have played two less matches.
And while it was not a perfect display, it was far more spirited than the sorry showing in the derby defeat at the Etihad.
Spurs twice equalised Ronaldo’s strikes through Harry Kane and a first ever Premier League own goal from Harry Maguire but it was the veteran striker who had the last word.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited manager Ralf Rangnick saluted Ronaldo, saying: “Today was his best performance, at least since I arrived. He was good in training on Thursday and that is why I decided to start him. It was a fantastic performance by him but also by the rest of the team.
“He can do it [get 70,000 people off their feet], but again he can also do it only with the team. A fantastic performance. It was not just the three goals today it was also he was part of the team when they were in possession of the ball.
“It was probably our best performance bearing in mind the quality of the opponents. It was necessary, we had to win the game and it will give us a boost for our next game.
“We showed the kind reaction we were due to show after the bad second half at the Etihad. The team deserved to win, coming back after two equalising goals in that style was great.”
Paul Pogba added: “It was a beautiful game and a beautiful reaction from us. We hurt them at the right times and Ronaldo did what he does best.
“He has never been a problem. You have the best striker in history in our team, he cannot be a problem. Today the performance from him and all the team was very brilliant.
“Ronaldo was brilliant. I think that’s all we needed – a reaction. We scored beautiful goals. Even when we conceded a goal, we came back and scored again. The mentality was there again today.
“Everybody knows Cristiano – there’s no need to talk about him. That’s what he does. He didn’t play in the last game, but he comes back and scores three goals. Everybody’s happy.
“It was good today. You can hear the fans – they were pushing us and feeling it. I think today was a very good performance as a team and a very good reaction from the City game.
“We kept believing. In the second half we didn’t get the nice passing, and the movement I think wasn’t there. We gave them a bit of confidence, that’s why they scored. But we got a corner and scored the winning goal.
“It’s a boost. We needed it to go again. We want the top four and they were opponents who are looking for the top four also. It was a good win and a good performance.”
Spurs’ manager Antonio Conte also praised United’s matchwinner, saying: “We’re talking about a player who not only tonight showed he is a top, top player. He was amazing.
“Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two best players in the world in this era, and before that you had Maradona and Pele. When you play against this type of player, they’re decisive.
“Without Cristiano Ronaldo, for United it wouldn’t have been a good night.”
Of the defeat, Conte added: “It’s difficult to explain this loss. I think we didn’t deserve to lose, but at the same time we need to understand how we can improve.
“We had a good game, but we have to show more experience to manage certain situations. There are many parts in a game and sometimes you need to understand when to push, to go strong, to increase the intensity or when to be calm and not hurry. In that aspect, we have a lot of space for improvement. On the pitch we’ve had a great improvement.
“You can’t buy experience. You also improve your experience after this type of game. We have many young players in the team and hopefully after this game, they have the possibility to learn.
“We know we need to improve if we want to reach the level we need to be competitive for the top places.”
United made five changes to the side that lost to Manchester City last week.
Goalkeeper David de Gea started despite reports of issues with a Covid test and Ronaldo was back after missing the derby.
Raphael Varane returned after a spell out with Covid-19, while Edinson Cavani was on the bench.
The unwell Bruno Fernandes and injured Scott McTominay were not involved.
Spurs made one change to the side which thrashed Everton 5-0.
Wing-back Ryan Sessegnon was out with a hamstring injury, so Ben Davies came in.
The players wore black arm bands in memory of former Reds’ manager Frank O’Farrell following his death aged 94.
There was a star-studded line-up in the directors’ box including American football legendary quarterback Tom Brady the seven times Super Bowl winner, comedian Michael McIntyre and England manager Gareth Southgate.
United made a positive start and were on the front foot.
Ronaldo had a penalty appeal rejected as he claimed Eric Dier handled his shot.
But Ronaldo rolled back the years with a superb strike to give United a 12th minute lead.
Fred’s flick released Ronaldo who found the net with a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner, his 16th goal of the season, but only his second in 10 games.
Pogba then fired narrowly wide from distance as United went in search of a second.
Spurs had the ball in the net but Ben Davies’ effort was ruled out as he had clearly strayed offside as he ran on to Heung-Min Son’s through ball.
They kept knocking at the door as Dier’s far-post header from a corner was cleared off the line by Diogo Dalot.
And they were finally rewarded when they won a 33rd minute penalty after Alex Telles handled a cross from Dejan Kulusevski and Kane fired home the spot kick for his 21st of the season as he drew level with Frank Lampard in fifth place of the Premier League’s all-time list with 177 goals.
United regained their composure and were back ahead three minutes later when Ronaldo struck again.
Nemanja Matic released Jadon Sancho who square the ball to Ronaldo to slot home. And despite Sancho looking offside, a VAR review deemed the goal should stand.
After a pulsating opening period, the start to the second half was a slow burner.
Son had a chance to draw level but fired narrowly wide on the hour from Kulusevski’s cross.
Ronaldo, looking for his first hat-trick of his return spell, forced a decent save from Hugo Lloris after a counterattack.
United made their first change with 22 minutes left when Anthony Elanga replaced Marcus Rashford.
Spurs drew level in the 72nd minute as Maguire put through his own goal as he slid in to try and clear a low cross from Sergio Reguilon as the defender’s hapless campaign continued.
It was frustrating for the Reds as Reguilon’s cross was directed at Cristian Romero who was offside.
Ronaldo was denied again by a smart stop from Lloris to turned his well-hit shot around the post for a corner.
United’s second change saw Matic make way for Edinson Cavani as they looked to find a winner.
And Ronaldo was to complete his 59th career hat-trick with nine minutes as he rose to head home Telles’ corner.
That was Ronaldo’s last contribution as he was immediately substituted by Victor Lindelof as United went to reinforce their defence and hold on to the lead which they were able to do.