Premier League - Ronaldo sends United five clear

Eurosport - Sun, 01 Feb 11:51:00 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty as Manchester United went five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Everton.

2008-2009 Premier League Manchester United-Everton Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his penalty - 0

Ronaldo converted from the spot two minutes before half-time at Old Trafford after Mikel Arteta was adjudged to have tripped Michael Carrick.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar set a new English league record for time without conceding a goal, breaking the previous mark of 1,103 minutes, as the visitors rarely threatened to beat the Dutchman.

Either Liverpool or Chelsea can reduce the gap to two points when the teams play at Anfield on Sunday, but the champions will have a game in hand.

Everton visited Old Trafford on the back of draws against Liverpool (twice) and Arsenal, and showed the organisation and tenacity that has made them so hard to beat.

The talismanic Tim Cahill started despite a bruised foot picked up against Arsenal on Wednesday, as David Moyes picked an unchanged line-up.

Everton have thrived on a consistency in selection from which Moyes's counterpart across Stanley Park, Rafa Benitez, could learn a thing or two, and the visitors looked comfortable until Ronaldo's breakthrough two minutes before the break.

The outstanding Carrick made a purposeful forward run and, as he entered the area, was caught by Arteta and stayed on his feet until Tony Hibbert tackled him cleanly.

The appeals were muted but referee Mark Halsey awarded the penalty for Arteta's trip. Everton were furious but Ronaldo was not about to let them off the hook, clipping the ball down the middle as Howard dived out of the way.

It was the Portuguese's 14th goal in half an injury-interrupted season - not a bad return given the constant attention devoted to his supposedly sub-standard performance and attitude.

Ronaldo showed all the ambition and ability that saw him crowned the world's best player, attempting skills that few others would even consider.

Exhibit A was a remarkable toe-poke hit with no backlift that scuttled through the Everton box, beat Howard but came back off the inside of the right-hand post.

While Van der Sar extended his Premier League clean sheets record to 12 in a row, his opposite number Tim Howard also excelled himself.

Howard, himself a former Old Trafford keeper, produced a superb close-range stop to deny Carlos Tevez from close range on 12 minutes, and he reacted sharply to a deflected Ronaldo effort to tip it over.

As well as winning the penalty, Carrick was in ambitious form. He sent a left-foot volley just wide after 33 minutes after collecting a majestic scooped through ball from Ronaldo, then forced another fine save from Howard with a drive from the edge of the box.

Early in the second half, Carrick might have had another penalty, when Joleon Lescott tripped him close to goal - this time referee Halsey waved play on.

Tevez may find himself back on the sidelines next weekend, when Wayne Rooney is scheduled to make his return from injury. The Argentine did little to help his cause with a wayward finish after he controlled a low cross from the right.

Tevez, who celebrates his 25th birthday this week, clearly knew he had to make an impact but, on two occasions in the second half, did so to the detriment of his team - ignoring better-placed team-mates to try long-range shots.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 339 - 358 of 358

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  1. I thought the penalty was justified as the defender actually back tripped Carrick, It was a professional foul and the referee was right to award the penalty. The second was also a clear penalty which Man U were denied.

    Nevaldo

    From Never, on Mon 2 Feb 11:50AM

  2. the mighty liver wastsa thing had a full squad to pick from and only the 1 man diving crew scraped too draws agaist us mmmmmmmm

    From KARL L, on Mon 2 Feb 1:17AM

  3. i am sorry to all tossers but at the end of the day we (efc) were beaten by 1 penalty by the world club champions with all due respect i dont see that as a negative when you take into account our depleted frontline and the games we have had recently

    From KARL L, on Mon 2 Feb 1:15AM

  4. ronaldo cant half the tym. no like torres showed todai he can especially with the help of like gerrard

    From lil_beckzi, on Sun 1 Feb 7:13PM

  5. Its not being bigheaded if you can back it up .. Torres is to lightweight for the Prem ...

    From Glenn T, on Sun 1 Feb 7:07PM

  6. torres should have got the sportsman of the year or w.e it was cause he is fit* and ronaldo is just too big headed. watch out man utd.
    btw.. stop slaggin gerrard off he gets us the goals we need so its all good

    From lil_beckzi, on Sun 1 Feb 6:59PM

  7. MICHAEL F(FOR FUKWIT)

    manky shiite wont win.

    Go and try sell some fraudulent story over the phone for cash,which is common from your parts,.

    From ,...,, on Sun 1 Feb 6:21PM

  8. ronaldo is the biggest cheat? gerrard dives more than him these days. he's a joke.

    From michael f, on Sun 1 Feb 6:08PM

  9. sorry who is this torres you speak of?
    doesn't seem to play for either man utd or everton? so mentioning him here is a bit stupid of you.

    also you should probably learn that there are 2 r's in torres. i belive he play for a team that has one one major title in 20 years, and no premierships, think they are currently below the mighty man utd in the table. 2 points behind and played a game more... yeah looks good for you doesn't it mate. haha
    go steal some wheels

    From michael f, on Sun 1 Feb 6:07PM

  10. Ronaldo is the biggest cheat in the game. Wat a F****** botty boy

    From SHAUN, on Sun 1 Feb 5:59PM

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    From ,...,, on Sun 1 Feb 5:50PM

  12. FERNANDO TORESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSS

    From ,...,, on Sun 1 Feb 5:50PM

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    From , on Sun 1 Feb 4:03PM

  14. BCFC

    From Richard, on Sun 1 Feb 3:13PM

  15. DrivelPool...Your bashing Man U...you wasted your breath bashing Chelski when they were the tops. You need to lool no further than your coach and ownership if you want to bash anyone. MIGHTY REDS

    From J-BO, on Sun 1 Feb 2:56PM

  16. People give ManU stick, including the players, manager, supporters. Fair enough. But noone can dispute that SAF has continuously built and rebuilt the team. He has done this remarkably, still is, and that is why our squad is unmatched. Frankly the LPool scenario is very sad. They usually play great football, are good ambassadors for the BPL and have loyal supporters. I hope they sort themselves out, but this season it looks like things are goig south way too fast. Its a shame for the Pool, for the game, the Kop

    From Adrian H, on Sun 1 Feb 1:48PM

  17. If you support your team, its in the good and the bad times. Why not congratulate teams who are proving to be better. Thats what real fans do. What they dont do is @#$% and moan at others just because your manager is all over the place and the leadership you had has been lost.

    From Adrian H, on Sun 1 Feb 1:45PM

  18. Does this mean you need ot be French to drink Margaux? Or perhaps German to eat Bratwurst? Indian to eat a curry? This all sounds a bit tribal to me. Why not just enjoy great soccer when you see it, regardless of who is playing. And if your team happens to be the best right now, then so be it. It isnt the fault of anyone in Manchester that LPool owners and Rafa are at odds. It isnt anyones fault other than Rafa that he makes tactical choices that are about as sensible as giving Bin Laden he Nobel Peace prize.

    From Adrian H, on Sun 1 Feb 1:44PM

  19. well, it looks like roger brawn has a case of sour grapes. Braw is probably apt. Brawn over brains perhaps? LPool are as much a soccer institution as ManU. All lovers of the game know that. What has this to do with crime rates, i wonder? As for having to be local to support your team, how does that become a necessity, exactly?

    From Adrian H, on Sun 1 Feb 1:43PM

  20. comment 338 - have you sin the traffic at old trafford? if people dont wanna be stuck in their cars for god knows how long then surely they have a right to leave when they want to.. as for the comment about supporting local teams i have two local teams man shity and man utd i think its obvious which one to support. i was born a red 20 years ago and i'll still be a red until i die even if we dont win a thing for 32 years

    From mykie g, on Sun 1 Feb 1:43PM
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