Cristiano Ronaldo ended his longest goal drought in recent times as Manchester United beat 10-man Brighton at Old Trafford to move back into the Premier League’s top-four.
The Portuguese gathered Scott McTominay’s ball before sneaking right of the Brighton defence and curling a low shot past a stationary Robert Sanchez with barely any backlift.
After a tepid opening period, Ronaldo struck six minutes into the second half, with Brighton going a man down three minutes later as defender Lewis Dunk got sent off after VAR sent referee Peter Bankes to review the defender’s foul on Anthony Elanga.
After Fernandes missed a golden opportunity to beat Sanchez with only the Brighton goalkeeper to beat, Ronaldo headed a great chance wide of the far post.
United breathed a sigh of relief when Jakub Moder’s speculative effort from the corner of the box rebounded back off the bar with David de Gea beaten.
Brighton were still fighting for a point when Fernandes scored with nearly the last kick of the game.
The Portuguese playmaker added a second as United broke from deep inside their own half in the final minute of injury-time.
The win lifts Ralf Rangnick’s side two points above West Ham and into the Champions League qualification places. Brighton remain ninth.
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