PARIS: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return to the starting lineup as they sealed a place in the Europa League knockout rounds with a 3-0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Ronaldo, who was left out of the squad for the weekend Premier League trip to Chelsea for disciplinary reasons, scored United’s third goal after Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford had given the home side a comfortable lead.

United are in second place in Group ‘E’ with 12 points from five matches ahead of their visit to Real Sociedad in their final pool game next week, where victory could see them top the table and book a place straight into the last 16.

Erik ten Hag’s side never looked troubled against Moldovan outfit Sheriff and might have been out of sight by halftime after creating numerous chances but only had Dalot’s header from a Christian Eriksen corner just before the break to show for it.

Defender Harry Maguire came on for the second half having missed the previous eight games with a hamstring injury as United doubled their lead when Rashford headed in Luke Shaw’s cross in the 65th. Ronaldo netted a late third from close range.

“Seeing Ronaldo get his goal was great,” Dutchman ten Hag told BT Sport. “He created, the team created for him and we know he has the capability to finish. He needed a goal and now I’m confident there will be more goals.”

The group winners qualify for the last 16 while the eight runners-up will compete in February’s playoffs where they face the eight teams coming third in their Champions League groups. Those in third place drop into the third-tier Europa Conference League.

Sociedad defeated Omonia 2-0 thanks to goals from Robert Navarro and Brais Mendez to stay three points ahead of United.

Real Betis secured first place in Group ‘C’ after a 1-0 victory at Ludogorets, with Nabil Fekir scoring the winner. The Spanish club have 13 points while Ludogorets are six points behind, tied with AS Roma. Mohamed Camara scored the winning goal to reignite Roma’s Europa League campaign as Jose Mourinho’s team earned a 2-1 victory over HJK Helsinki in Finland.

Tammy Abraham scored his first goal in Europe this season to put Roma 1-0 ahead before Perparim Hetemaj equalised for HJK.

Dutch side PSV Eindhoven had earlier advanced to the knockout stage following a 2-0 home win over Arsenal thanks to goals from Joey Veerman and Luuk De Jong.

The result ends Arsenals 100% start to Group ‘A’, though they had already sealed a place in the top two before the loss.

Gunners coach Mikel Arteta said afterwards that defender Pablo Mari, on loan at Italian club Monza, was having medical treatment after being stabbed in a Milan shopping centre in an attack which killed one person and injured three others.

“I just found out,” Arteta told reporters. “He is in hospital. He seems to be OK. I will get a briefing now about what happened.”

Ferencvaros are into the last 16 as Group ‘H’ winners after a 1-1 draw with AS Monaco, who must win their final fixture at home to Red Star Belgrade to make sure of second place.

Ferencvaros have qualified for the post-Christmas stages of European competition for the first time since 1974-75.

Belgium’s Royale Union Saint-Gilloise were crowned Group ‘D’ winners with a 2-0 victory at Malmo, while surprise early season Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin beat visiting Portuguese side Braga 1-0 to move above their opponents into second place in the pool.

Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Pedro were on target as the Italians came from behind to beat Midtjylland 2-1, and were joined on eight points in Group ‘F’ by Sturm Graz, who defeated Feyenoord 1-0 with a 93rd minute winner from Otar Kiteishvili.

Any of the four teams could still advance from that group.

In the Conference League, Manuel Lanzini converted from the penalty spot in the first half for West Ham United to defeat Silkeborg 1-0. West Ham made it five wins from five to qualify directly for the last 16 as Group ‘B’ winners.

Fiorentina came from a goal down to beat Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 and draw level with their Turkish opponents atop Group ‘A’ with 10 points. Both teams made it to the next round.

In their first match since coach Unai Emery announced he was leaving to manage Premier League club Aston Villa, Villarreal dropped points for the first time in Europe this season.

Despite having already qualified for the last 16 as Group ‘C’ winners they were held 2-2 by Hapoel Beer-Sheva as Sagiv Jehezkel equalised in the 79th minute.

Sweden’s Djurgarden clinched the top spot in Group ‘F’ with a 3-2 away win at Norway’s Molde while AZ Alkmaar have a five-point lead atop Group ‘E’ after a 2-0 away win at Vaduz.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2022