Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and skippered United to victory against struggling Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Entrusted with the captaincy for the first time, the Reds’ no.7 repaid his manager’s faith by breaking George Best’s record for goals scored in a season from midfield. The win sent United clear at the top of the league, with Liverpool the Reds’ next opponents on Easter Sunday.
Sir Alex made seven changes to the side that won at Pride Park last weekend, with only John O’Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Anderson retaining their spots in the starting XI.
Despite speculation that Ben Foster would continue in goal after his impressive debut, the manager plumped for Tomasz Kuszczak between the sticks (Edwin van der Sar is expected to be fit for Liverpool’s visit on Sunday) and the Pole was magnificent all night.
Owen Hargreaves was handed a starting berth, although the Englishman was deployed on the right side of defence and not in the centre of midfield. That job was given to Anderson and Darren Fletcher, while Carlos Tevez partnered Louis Saha up front.
In the absence of Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo was given the captain’s armband for the first time in his United career. And, given his amazing record this season, it was hardly surprising the Portuguese international marked the occasion with the game’s opening goal on nine minutes.
Bolton failed to adequately clear Nani’s corner and when the ball fell to the Reds’ no.7 on the penalty spot, he buried the chance on the half volley.
The Reds continued to dominate and Nani went close on 15 minutes when his shot fizzed over the bar. Bolton almost forced an equaliser three minutes later, however, when Kuszczak was called into action to deny Wanderers captain Kevin Davies from close range.
The Pole’s smart reflex save drew gasps of admiration, but Ronaldo’s free-kick two minutes later brought Old Trafford to its feet. Fouled by Abdoulaye Meite in a central position, the Reds’ no.7 dusted himself off to lash the ball home from 29 yards. Crisp, dipping and swerving all at once, it left goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi with no chance.
The two goals aside, the Oman international didn’t have much to do in the first half. He did display assured handling 10 minutes before the break, however, when Carlos Tevez twisted and turned his way into the box before firing goalwards.
It was the same result shortly afterwards when the Argentinean headed into Habsi’s arms after Louis Saha had bamboozled the visitors’ defence on the left. The half then ended with more flicks and tricks, as John O’Shea scissor-kicked just wide from Ronaldo’s clever pass.
Meite was replaced at the break by Nicky Hunt but it was another Bolton defender, Gretar Rafn Steinsson, who was in the thick of the action as the second half got underway.
The Icelandic international made a clumsy challenge on Tevez just 22 yards from goal, which presented Ronaldo with another chance to fire a free-kick towards the Bolton goal. It was Nani, though, who surprised everyone by curling the ball goalwards and forcing a fine save from Habsi by the goalkeepers’ left-hand post.
The visitors did get the ball in the net on 55 minutes but El Hadji Diouf’s wide free-kick was ruled to have been taken too quickly. When referee Alan Wiley was eventually satisfied, Diouf pulled the trigger again and this time Kuszczak made a superb flying save to his right.
The Polish stopper pulled off an even better stop minutes later, acrobatically tipping over Nicky Hunt’s rasping volley. He proved his worth once again in the next phase of play, this time getting down well to push Gavin McCann’s shot around the post.
Bolton were enjoying a rare spell of sustained pressure and, at this point, had registered more shots on goal than the Reds. Pressure counts for nothing if not converted into goals, however, and Bolton have struggled all season to find the back of the net. Tonight at Old Trafford, Kevin Davies led the line in his usual bustling manner, but brawn alone can’t unlock top defences.
But for Habsi’s reflexes at the other end, Ronaldo would have netted his hat-trick just after the hour. Louis Saha then blasted high and wide, his final contribution in what was his first start in four games.
The Frenchman made way for Wayne Rooney on 70 minutes, while Paul Scholes came on for Anderson in the heart of midfield.
The change seemed to restore normalcy to proceedings, as United resumed top billing in the possession stakes. Nani was denied once again by a sharp Habsi save before electing to shoot minutes later when a pass would have been better advised. Rooney then teed up Tevez to shoot but, like so many other recent Reds chances, his strike failed to find the target.
Still, it mattered little in the grand scheme of things. By then, United were cruising, 2-0 up and three points clear at the top of the league.
United: Kuszczak; Fletcher, Pique, Vidic (Brown 60), O'Shea; Ronaldo, Anderson (Scholes 70), Hargreaves, Nani; Tevez, Saha (Rooney 70)
Subs not used: Foster, Evra
Bolton Wanderers: Al Habsi; Steinsson, O’Brein A, Meite (Hunt 46), Gardner; Diouf, O’Brien J, Guthrie (Giannakopoulos 82), McCann, Taylor; Davies
Subs not used: Walker, Campo, Rasiak
Booked: O’Brien A, Steinsson
Attendance: 75,476 |
發表於 2008-3-20 05:54 AM
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發表於 2008-3-20 07:08 AM
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