Quote from Segun Ite on April 19, 2022, 6:05 AM

There are quite a number of times when heroes have to step up to save the day. Just like Spiderman, Superman or Captain America do. In the footballing world, there are a handful of moments when superstars and acclaimed-world bests have to go the extra mile for their team. Saturday was one of such days as Cristiano Ronaldo took the green-pitched world by surprise with a phenomenal and exhilarating performance.

Manchester have not been the best of teams in recent times and the Old Trafford residents have suffered so many setbacks that a lot of fans and critics all over the world still vividly remember. Struggling for a spot in second tier Europa league whilst watching from home as fellow English teams slug it out in the UCL midweek is somewhat of a mediocre performance. Speaking of Ronaldo, the Portuguese veteran has not been in the best graces of football fans, players and the entire universe for some time now considering a very controversial moment that saw the 37-year old snap at an Everton fan and smash his phone two weeks ago.

But how best to rewrite an ugly event than to prove another fantastic point to the world(unfortunately, Will Smith has not been able to do this)

And that's exactly what Ronaldo did this past weekend. Ronaldo registered the first goal of the game inside seven minutes, opportuned by Ben Gibson's indecision to discharge and Elanga's quick reaction to possess and tee-up. Alex Telles delivered a precise cross in the 33rd minute, locating the match-opener who got in position, past Gibson and finished past the goalie in style to extend United's lead.

Norwich rounded off the first half with a goal of their own. Antonio Pukki delivered a sublime in-box cross that sailed over Red shirts and to Kieran Dowell, who pegged it into Degea's goal with his head. Dowell got himself some more reputation in the second-half, playing Pukki through the slack United backline for the Scottish to finish in one-on-one fashion past Degea.

Ronaldo's night was however not to be stolen as the legend proved to be the master of the show late on. With Elanga tripped from 25 yards out, Cristiano was equal to the resulting freekick and struck the ball into the far left in a knuckle-ball like version to complete a well deserved hattrick.

Ronaldo's feat against Norwich made it his record sixtieth career hattrick, bringing his team to a relatively safe haven.