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Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo showed his continued class in front of goal when he canceled out Marcos Alonso’s opener for Chelsea in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Old Trafford on Thursday.
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It was another night of mediocrity from Ralf Rangnick’s United as their troubled season, which began with such high expectations, fizzles out. The result leaves Chelsea in third place on 66 points while United are in sixth place on 55, five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, having played two more games.
The only classy moment, to bring some cheer to the fans who had once again vented their frustration against the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, came from Ronaldo with a superb controlling and finishing play.
Not much has worked for United this season, whether under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or German Rangnick, who took over for the Norwegian in November, but Portugal’s five-time Ballon d’Or winner has certainly delivered in front of goal.
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Ronaldo’s 62nd-minute strike was his 17th league goal this season. Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has found the target more often and the former Real Madrid player has scored eight of his side’s last nine goals.
After Chelsea failed to make the most of a series of first-half chances, with United goalkeeper David De Gea thrice denying Kai Havertz, they finally pulled ahead at the hour. Reece James’ cross was kicked in by Havertz and Alonso powered a left-footed volley into the corner of the net.
Within two minutes, however, United were back level when Nemanja Matic collected the ball over the top and Ronaldo took a throw-in before moving past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
(With contributions from Reuters)
