Ronaldo scored a brace against the Hammers.
After turning in United's opener with his left foot from Nani's cross after 13 minutes he screamed with joy to the heavens and then gave a wide grin towards the Reds bench.bThe toothy beaming smile was absent when he slid in to poke his second of the match on the half hour but maybe that was more to do with the fact that it was a routine finish and Dimitar Berbatov deserved to be the focus of attention for his jaw-dropping assist.
It was a sumptuous moment from the Bulgarian as he took the ball to the by-line and completely flummoxed Hammers defender Collins with a turn and flick to leave him rooted to the spot looking at the space where the Reds striker had previously been. bIt was a magical moment that summed up United's swaggering command of this game. One by one all United's wizards had their party trick moments.
If there was any slight downside to this stroll it was the fact that United didn't vastly improve their goal difference figures having opened up West Ham so early and so clinically. It wasn't for want of trying and nobody tried harder than Wayne Rooney when he came on as a sub. He tried a thunderbolt, a delicate chip and a curler to get his name on the scoresheet again in his 21 minutes on the pitch. Ronaldo almost had the final say and should have been celebrating his first hat trick since his treble against Newcastle last January but having been set up by Evra he made it an easy gather for Hammers keeper Robert Green who must have felt like he'd escaped a real thrashing on the night.
30 October 2008
28 October 2008
Everton 1 Utd 1
The Toffees held Utd to a draw at Goodison Park this weekend. The Red Devils started well and when they took the lead through Darren Fletcher in the first twenty minutes, Everton may have thought they were in for a good hiding.
However Toffees keeper Tim Howard kept his team in the game in the first half and paid dividends for the home side when Marouane Fellaini headed home after sixty-three minutes. Howard produced an amazing string of saves from Ronaldo, Vidic and a particularly special stop from Giggs.
However Toffees keeper Tim Howard kept his team in the game in the first half and paid dividends for the home side when Marouane Fellaini headed home after sixty-three minutes. Howard produced an amazing string of saves from Ronaldo, Vidic and a particularly special stop from Giggs.
22 October 2008
Utd 3 Celtics 0
Berbatov scored a brace in Europe.
Nani’s 29th minute corner was eventually nudged goalward by John O’Shea. Berbatov’s finesse as he flicked home was devastating. The Bulgarian mixes panache and predatory skills and the latter was to the fore again as he nicked his second in the 51st minute. Cristiano Ronaldo’s thunderous free kick was too fierce for keeper Boruc to hold and Berbatov beat Wayne Rooney to snaffle the follow up.
The England hitman was again a driving force for the Reds and having been beaten by his strike colleague to the scraps for the second goal, then leathering a shot that was tipped over before having a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, you somehow knew Rooney wouldn’t leave Old Trafford last night without adding to his extraordinary recent run. His figures were increased to nine goals in seven matches for club and country when he drilled home in the 76th minute to finish off a swift United move that began with a Van der Sar quick roll out.
Nani’s 29th minute corner was eventually nudged goalward by John O’Shea. Berbatov’s finesse as he flicked home was devastating. The Bulgarian mixes panache and predatory skills and the latter was to the fore again as he nicked his second in the 51st minute. Cristiano Ronaldo’s thunderous free kick was too fierce for keeper Boruc to hold and Berbatov beat Wayne Rooney to snaffle the follow up.
The England hitman was again a driving force for the Reds and having been beaten by his strike colleague to the scraps for the second goal, then leathering a shot that was tipped over before having a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, you somehow knew Rooney wouldn’t leave Old Trafford last night without adding to his extraordinary recent run. His figures were increased to nine goals in seven matches for club and country when he drilled home in the 76th minute to finish off a swift United move that began with a Van der Sar quick roll out.
Utd 4 WBA 0
Rooney did it again...
United sunk West Brom with a slick second-half display at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani were all on target to help United into the top four of the Premier League for the first time this season.
United sunk West Brom with a slick second-half display at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani were all on target to help United into the top four of the Premier League for the first time this season.
07 October 2008
Blackburn 0 United 2
Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney got the goals in front of Fabio Capello as United recorded back-to-back Barclays Premier League victories for the first time this season.
From a corner kick, Rooney curled over a cross to the far post which virtually dropped on Wes Brown's head and bounced in. Blackburn's keeper claimed he was blocked off by Nemanja Vidic as he went to collect the cross but TV replays suggested the contact was accidental. After winning on just one of their last six visits to Blackburn, United were used to struggling at Ewood Park and failed to create many clear cut chances early on. But after breaking the deficit, the result was never in doubt.
United took charge and players were queuing up to get on the end of the overlapping Wes Brown's next cross, which Rooney headed wide, with Cristiano Ronaldo coming close with the final kick of the half after Patrice Evra had crossed.
Berbatov then slipped a pass to Ronaldo that he failed to convert. There was certainly nothing wrong with the surge that took Ronaldo past Martin Olsson after he had collected Wes Brown's short pass by the touchline. And, having charged into open space, Ronaldo was able to take his time and pick out Rooney, who produced an unstoppable first-time finish that flashed into the Blackburn goal.
Carlos Tevez, who many feel is unlucky to be squeezed out of the United side at present, replaced Giggs, then Wes Brown nodded Fletcher's corner over. Rooney chipped over the advancing Jason Brown but also onto the roof of the Blackburn net, then Berbatov could not get around the Rovers goalkeeper after also finding himself racing clear of the home defence. Park Ji-sung replaced Rooney 13 minutes from time, just after Anderson had tested Brown's reflexes with an angled drive. Ronaldo should have done better not long afterwards, then Tevez hit a post after splashing through the puddles four minutes from time to reach the winger's cross.
From a corner kick, Rooney curled over a cross to the far post which virtually dropped on Wes Brown's head and bounced in. Blackburn's keeper claimed he was blocked off by Nemanja Vidic as he went to collect the cross but TV replays suggested the contact was accidental. After winning on just one of their last six visits to Blackburn, United were used to struggling at Ewood Park and failed to create many clear cut chances early on. But after breaking the deficit, the result was never in doubt.
United took charge and players were queuing up to get on the end of the overlapping Wes Brown's next cross, which Rooney headed wide, with Cristiano Ronaldo coming close with the final kick of the half after Patrice Evra had crossed.
Berbatov then slipped a pass to Ronaldo that he failed to convert. There was certainly nothing wrong with the surge that took Ronaldo past Martin Olsson after he had collected Wes Brown's short pass by the touchline. And, having charged into open space, Ronaldo was able to take his time and pick out Rooney, who produced an unstoppable first-time finish that flashed into the Blackburn goal.
Carlos Tevez, who many feel is unlucky to be squeezed out of the United side at present, replaced Giggs, then Wes Brown nodded Fletcher's corner over. Rooney chipped over the advancing Jason Brown but also onto the roof of the Blackburn net, then Berbatov could not get around the Rovers goalkeeper after also finding himself racing clear of the home defence. Park Ji-sung replaced Rooney 13 minutes from time, just after Anderson had tested Brown's reflexes with an angled drive. Ronaldo should have done better not long afterwards, then Tevez hit a post after splashing through the puddles four minutes from time to reach the winger's cross.
02 October 2008
Aalborg 0 United 3
It was a comfortable and quality performance by United as they finally got into their stride in the Champions League. One goal from Wayne Rooney and two from Dimitar Berbatov did the damage. The gloss was taken off the victory, though, because of an injury to Paul Scholes (out for 10 weeks!) and a knock to Rooney (doubtful for next game).
After only six minutes Cristiano Ronaldo chased down a pass to keeper Zaza and his hurried clearance spun up off the Reds winger and slowly fell invitingly to Berbatov at close range. But he blew his opportunity as he slammed his effort into the advertising hoardings. Scholes injured his knee in a clumsy tangle with Aalborg captain Augustinussen and was replaced by Ryan Giggs who six minutes after coming on was the brilliant architect of United's opener. He slipped a pass through to Wayne Rooney who confidently stroked home.
Rio Ferdinand was outstanding at the back and his 24th minute stretching block as Bogelund squeezed the trigger saved United in their only serious moment of danger. United were comfortable and nobody was more snug than Rafael. Never mind his European debut, the South American whippet looked like he was as experienced as the United right-backs Wes Brown and Gary Neville, who he is now seriously set to challenge. His penetrating raids down the right were a feature that kept United's nose to the ground.
In the 55th minute Olfers and Augustinussen got themselves into a mess and the latter's woeful effort to clear a ridiculous pass spun towards Berbatov who put accuracy into his hit as he opened his United goal account. He added his second in spectacular style after 79 minutes with a goal of class. Ronaldo put in a cross just a fraction behind the Bulgarian but he shifted his body to volley in again with power and panache.
After only six minutes Cristiano Ronaldo chased down a pass to keeper Zaza and his hurried clearance spun up off the Reds winger and slowly fell invitingly to Berbatov at close range. But he blew his opportunity as he slammed his effort into the advertising hoardings. Scholes injured his knee in a clumsy tangle with Aalborg captain Augustinussen and was replaced by Ryan Giggs who six minutes after coming on was the brilliant architect of United's opener. He slipped a pass through to Wayne Rooney who confidently stroked home.
Rio Ferdinand was outstanding at the back and his 24th minute stretching block as Bogelund squeezed the trigger saved United in their only serious moment of danger. United were comfortable and nobody was more snug than Rafael. Never mind his European debut, the South American whippet looked like he was as experienced as the United right-backs Wes Brown and Gary Neville, who he is now seriously set to challenge. His penetrating raids down the right were a feature that kept United's nose to the ground.
In the 55th minute Olfers and Augustinussen got themselves into a mess and the latter's woeful effort to clear a ridiculous pass spun towards Berbatov who put accuracy into his hit as he opened his United goal account. He added his second in spectacular style after 79 minutes with a goal of class. Ronaldo put in a cross just a fraction behind the Bulgarian but he shifted his body to volley in again with power and panache.
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