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A cool finish and a sublime free-kick gave United a deserved half-time lead, and in the absence of any real resistance from their opposition they eased their way back above Arsenal on goal difference.

United set about Portsmouth from the off, and with Ronaldo irresistibly to the fore they went 2-0 up in just over 15 minutes.

The first goal followed a move of real quality.

Paul Scholes - making his first start since recovering from a knee injury - flicked the ball to Ronaldo, he chested it back to Nani, Nani half-volleyed it into Ronaldo's path and the Portuguese cantered in to tuck the ball between David James's legs.

Ronaldo notched his side's second - and his own 19th league goal of the season - just minutes later with a stunning, dipping 25-yard free-kick into the top-right corner that left James rooted to the spot.

With the game seemingly sown up United began to turn on the style, and after Ronaldo drew a save from James with another free-kick, Wes Brown swept a left-footed volley over the bar from Nani's left-wing corner.

Portsmouth struggled to gain a foothold in the game, and United nearly extended their lead when Nani cut in from the right after a counter-attack and screwed his shot across goal and wide.

Rio Ferdinand tested James with a header from a corner at the beginning of the second half and Wayne Rooney almost made it three but underhit his attempted lob, allowing James to scamper back and gather the ball.

As United sat back Portsmouth began to see more of the ball, and Alex Ferguson responded by sending on Anderson for Scholes.

A textbook sliding tackle from Rooney set up Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick but a weak left-footed toe-poke let Portsmouth off the hook, and at the other end debutant Milan Baros vainly appealed for a penalty after being robustly tackled by Brown.

James then produced two sharp saves in quick succession to deny first Ji-sung Park and then Nani, before Rooney and Ronaldo departed the field to be replaced by Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez.

United's attacking play lost momentum with the departure of their feted twosome, but in the final minute Tevez drew a save from James with a stinging drive and Anderson sent a deft shot just wide after seizing on the loose ball and surging into the box.

Tom Williams / Eurosport