Premier League - Ronaldo and Rooney fire United

Eurosport - Sun, 28 Sep 10:09:00 2008

Second-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney put Manchester United's title ambitions back on track with a 2-0 defeat of Bolton at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Ronaldo won and converted a disputed penalty on 60 minutes to score his first league goal of the season, before Rooney arrived from the substitutes' bench to seal victory with an exquisite finish late on.

The result represented only United's second win in five Premier League matches, and the first time Sir Alex Ferguson's team have scored more than once in the top flight this season.

The opening exchanges belonged to Bolton, however, who took no time in asserting their trademark physicality on United's comparatively lightweight midfield.

Two minutes in the visitors had the first shot on target, when Kevin Nolan reacted first to a loose ball and struck a firm volley into the arms of Edwin van der Sar.

Kevin Davies was the next to threaten, driving in from the left and sending over a far-post cross which Rio Ferdinand dealt with comfortably.

But United escaped the early volleys unscathed and gradually started to settle in possession.

On 13 minutes, Dimitar Berbatov met Darren Fletcher's right-wing cross with a crisp header, but could only direct it straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

Two minutes later Carlos Tevez cut in from the left and fired a low shot that Jaaskelainen parried into the path of Park Ji-Sung. The South Korean found the angle too tight, however, and could only find the side netting.

Just after the half-hour mark Jaaskelainen made a fine save to deny Anderson, and soon after repeated the feat to punch away a powerful Ferdinand effort.

Bolton were being outplayed and bookings for Johan Elmander, Davies and Gavin McCann owed much to their inability to cope with United's attacking threat.

Just before the interval, however, Gary Megson's men launched a counter-attack and missed a glorious opportunity to take an undeserved lead.

Gretar Steinsson was the architect, reaching the by-line on the right and finding Fabrica Muamba with a fine cross - only for the midfielder to shoot wide from six yards with Van der Sar sprawling.

The second half began with United firmly in the ascendancy. Ronaldo cut across the Bolton box from the left to shoot against the post on 52 minutes, and the visitors duly parked all of their resources behind the ball.

The Portuguese winger moved to the opposite flank soon after and won his side a penalty from referee Rob Styles after Jloyd Samuel was harshly adjudged to have brought him down.

Replays showed the defender got the ball, and Ronaldo compounded Bolton's frustration by sending Jaaskelainen the wrong way and putting United ahead with a flourish.

In truth it was no more than the home side deserved, and they doubled their lead on 77 minutes with a fine finish from substitute Rooney.

Ronaldo was inevitably involved, driving into the Bolton box before finding the England striker with an impudent backheel. Rooney dragged the ball back and sent a curling shot beyond Jaaskelainen into the far corner.

There would be no response from Gary Megson's toothless Bolton, who other than the occasional foray were hopelessly bereft of ambition and ultimately could have suffered a far heavier defeat but for the efforts of Jaaskelainen.

Substitute Paul Scholes was sent clean through by Berbatov on 88 minutes, but the impressive Jaaskelainen once more came to the visitor's rescue - saving with his legs.

United played out the closing minutes comfortably, and Ferguson could even afford the luxury of withdrawing the ever-influential Ronaldo once his important work was done.

With both he and Rooney on the scoresheet there was a familiar look to this United victory - one that will surely send a clear message to those who dared to doubt United's title credentials.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 128 - 147 of 147

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. i must agree with peterlynch_cfc05, comments number 133 the decisions are alway dubious at man utds ground but always favour man utd so what are the refs being given off man utd to make these refs favour them all the time ?? £10,000 - £15,000 ie is nothing to a big club like man utd to ensure they get the wins is it,, makes you think after seeing this penalty

    From juli s, on Mon 29 Sep 11:43PM

  2. Dive or no dive, ManU was given 2 points they didn't earn or deserve, while Bolton got nothing expect a sorry apology. Heads but, Bolton fans, your turn will come, even if not against ManU... Video replay would have made things clear, as would have been the case between Liverpool and Stoke (Gerrard's freekick), which would then make a four-point difference between ManU and the Reds - that is a luxury no apology can make up for. Shame on the FA, and all other governing football bodies for not allowing video replays. It's not right because it's not fair. Spurs were also cheated - when will it all end and change?

    From gordon.merk, on Mon 29 Sep 10:53PM

  3. Good to see United having such a fantastic start to the season, how is life that far down the table? At least you have Wigan to keep you company, just above you hahahahahahaha

    From benjaminkay82, on Sun 28 Sep 7:35PM

  4. THE PORTUGUESE P.RICK UP TO HIS USUAL TRICKS, THE CHEATING B@ST@RD, EVEN FERGUSON WAS SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSED, ONLY SLIGHTLY.

    From Terence P, on Sun 28 Sep 5:46PM

  5. Ok. ALL I want to see is your thumbs for reff Rob Styles...

    If you think he's a total bloody IDIOT just thumbs-UP

    If you LOVE the @#$%.. thumbs DOWN

    Forget about diving or not. The reff is on the spot and still gets fooled.

    MY VOTE: Demote reff Rob Styles to under 12's in Somalia!!!

    From Liverpool FC Rules, on Sun 28 Sep 3:42PM

  6. DIVERS

    From kathleen.39@..., on Sun 28 Sep 3:05PM

  7. man u arethe best

    From light.elite, on Sun 28 Sep 1:46PM

  8. so all ronaldos 40 goals were all dives where they. i think not. wen ur team wins the champions league come back

    From NICOLA, on Sun 28 Sep 1:02PM

  9. I am not a Manu fan, or ever likely to be, but on this occasion I think that Ronaldo did not play his dramatic diving act. He went down deadweight as you would expect but there was hardly any appeal by the ManU lads, the onus was completely on the referee. I don't know if Styles watched MOTD last night but if he did he must cringe at some of the penalty decisions he has made in recent seasons.
    It's people like Gary Megson I feel sorry for, works hard with limited resource and gets kicked in the teeth through howlers like yesterday.
    To my utter amazement Fergie admitted it wasn't a penalty, he normally defends anything given to his team.
    I don't know if this is practical but like cricket umpires couldn't we have a European elite referees team that rotate around the countries. I think it would take away the pressure and, yes, prejudice that applies in our game here.
    Having said that though, what would Real madrid fans think of messrs Wiley and Styles on their patch?
    I can accept mistakes, I cannot accept the total stubborness of people like Styles who, I think, would find it hard to accept the decision of another official.
    Being surrounded by the whinging, beying, pack of Chelsea whimps doesn't help either. Talking of which I see the star diving actor Drogba is back, I hoped that some mug would have bought him and taken him away from our shores. No such luck!

    From Ray S, on Sun 28 Sep 12:41PM

  10. WHEN are the FA gonna act on REF's like Rob Styles? (These days the FA stands for F### ALL!!)

    It is not the first time he has made a major mistake after having a "clear" view of what happened!!!!

    REFs have a hard job to do...........BT when they have a "CLEAR" view of it..........................THERE SHOULD NOT BE A MISTAKE MADE!!!

    From Richie, on Sun 28 Sep 12:16PM

  11. Ronaldo has turn the fortune of Man U for better again two goals in as many game. I can't stand this bloated Rooney venerated by the English press yet he only score one goal every ten months.

    From sabba, on Sun 28 Sep 12:16PM

  12. ronaldo cons another ref,what a diver, and who would want to buy him or rooney?

    From PATRICIA P, on Sun 28 Sep 12:03PM

  13. man u loose they have had it if they win they are cheats. last season chelsea won many games in the last mins of the game.one way or the other? it is what makes that league so special so stop moaning and just enjoy the best football on earth.

    From cuddy1612@..., on Sun 28 Sep 11:49AM

  14. dearest Michelle - you stoopid red f**er

    don't get all panicky just because we could buy the greasy tw*t 20 times over ! i wouldn't want that pr**k in city shirt for anything, there are 30 better players out there...as for dimitar all we did is make you pay over the odds for an average player, you tool !!!

    From rimmington548@..., on Sun 28 Sep 11:49AM

  15. Robbie Fowler turned a penalty when give one wrongly

    From STANLEY C, on Sun 28 Sep 11:43AM

  16. good performance man u ,when the bigots r out you know there scared so get back where u belong top of the pile.just because man.u get a penalty everybody moan,get a life, there not the only team to get penalty,s right or wrongly

    From edwin l, on Sun 28 Sep 11:29AM

  17. United have a number of "Homer" refs who give decisions in their favor & Styles has always been one of them. It makes you wonder what these refs are getting in return!!!!

    With the high stakes involved in the game now refs need to be taken to task for what is eith incompetance or corruption. If you consistantly made "Dubious" decisions in any other career you wou get sacked.

    From peterlynch_cfc05@..., on Sun 28 Sep 11:13AM

  18. To all bitter blue nose twats.All the money in the world could not buy Rooney or Ronaldo.Lets see where you end up after x-mas when robiniho is moaning about the cold weather.Berbatov tov tov he told city to @#$% off berbatov tov tov he told tottenham who was boss. 33 years @#$% all. Form is temporary class is permanent!!

    From michelle.lugsden@..., on Sun 28 Sep 11:06AM

  19. I see the babies are crying again just because Man U are about to kick @#$% as usual and as for you sad little whingers saying we have the ref in our pockets, do me a favour.............jog the @#$% on you tossers

    From Demobpunk, on Sun 28 Sep 10:59AM

  20. man u have ref in there pockits that is for sure thats why they win most games ronaldo is a big @#$%

    From tonybeer@..., on Sun 28 Sep 10:45AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account