<p>Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the first time this season as Manchester United got their Europa League campaign back on track with a 2-0 win at Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.</p>.<p>Ronaldo had gone seven games without a goal this term before the United striker converted a first half penalty against the Moldovan champions.</p>.<p>It was the 37-year-old's 699th club goal, but Ronaldo's low-key celebration was in keeping with the comfortable nature of United's third successive away victory.</p>.<p>This was the kind of unglamourous fixture Ronaldo seemed desperate to avoid when he launched his unsuccessful bid to quit Old Trafford for a Champions League club in the summer.</p>.<p>But the Portugal star will be relieved to have got on the scoresheet, after Jadon Sancho put United ahead with a well-timed response on the day he was left out of the England squad.</p>.<p>Ronaldo missed United's pre-season tour for "family reasons" and, while Ten Hag was pleased with his contribution against Sheriff, he says the forward needs more work to reach peak fitness.</p>.<p>"We could expect this when you miss pre-season so he has to work really hard and invest to get the right fitness then he will score more goals," United boss Erik ten Hag said.</p>.<p>"You can see he is really close and when he gets fitter he will finish them. I think he is totally committed to this project and to this team.</p>.<p>"He needed that goal. He was close many times. You see connections coming around him.</p>.<p>"We're happy for him and the team wanted him to bring the goal, so that's good."</p>.<p>United lost their opening Group E match 1-0 against Real Sociedad last Thursday.</p>.<p>That gave Ten Hag's men no margin for error in Chisinau and they were up to the task against a Sheriff side who beat Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage last season.</p>.<p>United's first trip to the far-flung outpost of Moldova served as a painful reminder of their diminished status following last season's failure to qualify for the Champions League.</p>.<p>But, showing respect for Sheriff, Ten Hag named a strong side and Sancho, one of five changes, struck with United's first meaningful attack in the 17th minute.</p>.<p>Taking Christian Eriksen's pass in his stride, Sancho cleverly switched direction inside the Sheriff area, giving himself room to plant a cool finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.</p>.<p>Ronaldo doubled United's lead in the 39th minute, easily stroking in his spot-kick after Diogo Dalot was brought down by Patrick Kpozo.</p>.<p>United remain three points behind group leaders Real Sociedad, who won 2-1 against Omonia Nicosia.</p>.<p>Sociedad took the lead through Ander Guevara in the 30th minute and former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth bagged the 80th minute winner after Bruno equalised eight minutes earlier.</p>.<p>Andrea Belotti scored his first Roma goal to cap their 3-0 win against 10-man HJK Helsinki at the Stadio Olimpico.</p>.<p>Jose Mourinho's side suffered a shock 2-1 loss against Ludogorets in their Group C opener, but they were always in control after HJK captain Miro Tenho was sent off in the 15th minute for a professional foul on Belotti.</p>.<p>Paulo Dybala took just 69 seconds to break the deadlock after coming on at half-time as he fired home from the edge of the area.</p>.<p>Lorenzo Pellegrini chested in the second goal after 49 minutes, with former Torino forward Belotti tapping home in the 68th minute.</p>.<p>In Group A, Bodo/Glimt beat FC Zurich 2-1 to take top spot with Arsenal's game against PSV Eindhoven postponed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.</p>.<p>Surprise Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Braga as Vitor Oliveira's 77th minute goal settled the Group D tie.</p>.<p>In Group F, Midtjylland powered to a stunning 5-1 rout of Lazio, while Feyenoord's Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh hit a hat-trick in their 6-0 demolition of Sturm Graz.</p>
<p>Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the first time this season as Manchester United got their Europa League campaign back on track with a 2-0 win at Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.</p>.<p>Ronaldo had gone seven games without a goal this term before the United striker converted a first half penalty against the Moldovan champions.</p>.<p>It was the 37-year-old's 699th club goal, but Ronaldo's low-key celebration was in keeping with the comfortable nature of United's third successive away victory.</p>.<p>This was the kind of unglamourous fixture Ronaldo seemed desperate to avoid when he launched his unsuccessful bid to quit Old Trafford for a Champions League club in the summer.</p>.<p>But the Portugal star will be relieved to have got on the scoresheet, after Jadon Sancho put United ahead with a well-timed response on the day he was left out of the England squad.</p>.<p>Ronaldo missed United's pre-season tour for "family reasons" and, while Ten Hag was pleased with his contribution against Sheriff, he says the forward needs more work to reach peak fitness.</p>.<p>"We could expect this when you miss pre-season so he has to work really hard and invest to get the right fitness then he will score more goals," United boss Erik ten Hag said.</p>.<p>"You can see he is really close and when he gets fitter he will finish them. I think he is totally committed to this project and to this team.</p>.<p>"He needed that goal. He was close many times. You see connections coming around him.</p>.<p>"We're happy for him and the team wanted him to bring the goal, so that's good."</p>.<p>United lost their opening Group E match 1-0 against Real Sociedad last Thursday.</p>.<p>That gave Ten Hag's men no margin for error in Chisinau and they were up to the task against a Sheriff side who beat Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage last season.</p>.<p>United's first trip to the far-flung outpost of Moldova served as a painful reminder of their diminished status following last season's failure to qualify for the Champions League.</p>.<p>But, showing respect for Sheriff, Ten Hag named a strong side and Sancho, one of five changes, struck with United's first meaningful attack in the 17th minute.</p>.<p>Taking Christian Eriksen's pass in his stride, Sancho cleverly switched direction inside the Sheriff area, giving himself room to plant a cool finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.</p>.<p>Ronaldo doubled United's lead in the 39th minute, easily stroking in his spot-kick after Diogo Dalot was brought down by Patrick Kpozo.</p>.<p>United remain three points behind group leaders Real Sociedad, who won 2-1 against Omonia Nicosia.</p>.<p>Sociedad took the lead through Ander Guevara in the 30th minute and former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth bagged the 80th minute winner after Bruno equalised eight minutes earlier.</p>.<p>Andrea Belotti scored his first Roma goal to cap their 3-0 win against 10-man HJK Helsinki at the Stadio Olimpico.</p>.<p>Jose Mourinho's side suffered a shock 2-1 loss against Ludogorets in their Group C opener, but they were always in control after HJK captain Miro Tenho was sent off in the 15th minute for a professional foul on Belotti.</p>.<p>Paulo Dybala took just 69 seconds to break the deadlock after coming on at half-time as he fired home from the edge of the area.</p>.<p>Lorenzo Pellegrini chested in the second goal after 49 minutes, with former Torino forward Belotti tapping home in the 68th minute.</p>.<p>In Group A, Bodo/Glimt beat FC Zurich 2-1 to take top spot with Arsenal's game against PSV Eindhoven postponed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.</p>.<p>Surprise Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Braga as Vitor Oliveira's 77th minute goal settled the Group D tie.</p>.<p>In Group F, Midtjylland powered to a stunning 5-1 rout of Lazio, while Feyenoord's Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh hit a hat-trick in their 6-0 demolition of Sturm Graz.</p>