Ronaldo Brace Boosts United to 2nd
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by Jgiuffra
Mank Yank's Red Review
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again helped his team to another 3 points in the race to retain the Premiership trophy. United won 2-0 thanks to two goals from the 2 nd best player in the world on a night when the Red Devils could have easily surpassed their 5 goal haul from the corresponding fixture last year. A combination of good goaltending from Antti Niemi and some poor finishing from United’s front men kept the score-line respectable in a match that highlighted the vast gulf in talent between the 2 sides.
Sir Alex fielded, arguably, one of the most powerful sides he could muster. The old Scotsman was not going to take any chances after last weekends defeat to Bolton at the Reebok. Manchester United welcomed back Wayne Rooney to the starting line-up and although he didn’t score his movement off the ball stretched the Fulham defence to the breaking point. He was joined in attack by Carlos Tevez who could have had a hat-trick in the first 8 minutes! 2 scuffed shots and an instinctive save from Niemi kept out the energetic Argentinean. Some slack defending lead to the first goal. It came from a United corner taken by the Captain for the day, Ryan Giggs. Nemanja Vidic flicked on the corner on to the head of Fulam’s Steven Davis. Davis weakly headed the ball back into the danger area where Vidic set it in the air for Ronaldo who volleyed the ball with his pristine right foot past the diving keeper.
Later in the half former Liverpool great Danny Murphy came close with an effort that forced Van der Sar to make an excellent diving save. Murphy drove the ball powerfully to the right side of the United goal from 20 yards out. Van der Sar was at full stretch but managed to turn the rocket around his left hand post. The success he enjoyed at Old Trafford with Liverpool was not to be relived on this day. Fulham also had a penalty shout in the first half when Wes Brown flattened American Clint Dempsey in the area. Dempsey was not near the ball so the ref, Rob Styles, didn’t blow the whistle much to the dismay of Fulham’s travelling fans.
Patrice Evra was substituted at halftime replaced by John O’Shea. There was no injury reported but the rumour is that there was a flu bug making the rounds in the United locker room that overcame the French left-back in the first half. The beginning of the second half lacked the urgency of the first from United’s point of view. The side seemed to be a bit out of synch and match looked like it was about to get a bit scrappy when Fulham let United in again. John O’Shea took a throw deep in Fulam’s half that Ryan Giggs returned to him. No Fulham defender was near the Irishman when he sent a cross into the middle of the park that was met by the head of Ronaldo who was charging into the box. He bounced it past the helpless Fulham keeper for 2 nil. Game over.
Sir Alex sent Saha on for Rooney with 20 minutes left. He did not perform well. His touch was heavy and when he was put clean through by Tevez he could nothing other than blast it straight at the keeper. Ronaldo was unfairly booked for diving with about 10 minutes to go when he should have had a penalty. He was in on goal with only the keeper to beat. He slid the ball past the diving Niemi and was clipped on the ankles by Fulham’s big #1. Rob Styles let the winger’s reputation precede him and put him in his book for simulation. It was a terrible call that cost the winger his first hat-trick for Red Devils.
Notes:
Rio Ferdinand had to come off with 15 minutes to go due to the same illness that afflicted Evra. Lets hope it doesn’t infect anyone else!
As rumours of January transfers keep flying around—Berbatov and Anelka the most prominent—Fergie insists he is happy with his squad and says there will be no new arrivals in January. I think Darren Fletcher and Luis Saha are breathing a huge sigh of relief at this news.
Former United prospect, Northern Ireland hero and the record holder for most goals scored in the qualification stages of the European Cup, David Healy came on for Clint Dempsey to try and spoil the party for his old club. As usual his club form paled in comparison to his international form. Better luck next time.
Derby County will be making the trip up to the Theatre of Dreams this weekend. This should be a walk in the park for the Red Devils. Kenny Miller will do his best and is always a dangerous prospect, but I can’t see his side coming away from Old Trafford with anything but another dropped three points and a game closer to thier return to the Championship. No one said it was going to be easy in the Prem.
Cristiano Ronaldo now has 8 goals in the league and 13 in all competitions making him the top overall scorer in the Premiership taking over from Tottenham’s Robbie Keane. Good on you Ronnie!
Until next time…
