Cristiano Ronaldo's Unforgettable Match with Manchester United 2006 2007

Ronaldo had a lot of look-up, it wasn't a great deal on, so he went for goal himself. Back inside that penalty area, over Ferdinand, Vidić with the jump, Michael Carrick, good save, oh, and Ronaldo, from six yards out, has drilled it over the crossbar. Aaron Lennon, first challenge on him came from Paul Scholes, it's a free kick to Tottenham. Oh, dear me, Paul Scholes. It's a little bit late, Steve. Good as well, really. Larsen, on the spin. That's a penalty, referee, that is a penalty. Berbatov. Tight angle! Oh, and Van der Sar needed to make the save. Good touch, Steve, that is a good touch. Two in the penalty area, played by Dawson. Back to Ronaldo. That's a penalty. Yeah, he's caught his foot, Mark Clattenburg's given that one. Right in, Premiership goal of the season. Into the bottom corner, passed Paul Robinson, and Cristiano Ronaldo from the penalty spot gives United the lead. Oh, and Robinson had to turn that around. It caught him. Carrick. Vidić, what a good save from Robinson. That's a tremendous save from the goalkeeper, good football again by United. Vidić got a touch, oh, there was no United player coming in, and then Carrick it was, with the header, and it was clawed away by Robinson. Carrick himself is going to take a third corner in succession. And that's in! It's Nemanja Vidić, with his fourth goal for United, to put United 2-0 up just two minutes into the second half. Well, what did I say to you before the game, we were walking along the road. Scoring the penalty area here, this is Ronaldo. Brilliant cutback, Scholes must score, and he does, it's 3-0. Paul Scholes is in on the act as well, his sixth of the season, and that should be the goal, which means United go back to six points clear at the top. What did I say to you at half-time? Go on, tell everybody. Big changes, why not, you're not wondering what we started off with. Larson, Rooney, oh, that's a magnificent effort! From Wayne Rooney and it looked in all the way. We're right behind it from our view. Pudlestan, Berbatov, onside, good save from Van der Sar, point blank. Good chance for the Bulgarian, Ghali, decent cross, Berbatov, super save. Fantastic save. Fantastic save, he's come in the blind side of Real Ferdinand, Berbatov, Van der Sar again. Oh, super ball, Ryan Giggs for four! It's getting better and better at White Hartley. The man who got the goal against Spurs earlier in the season has scored against them today to make it Spurs 0-4. That's great play by Luis Garza. Robby Keane, another good save by Van der Sar. Oh, he's hurt himself, Steve. Djon O'Shea's the man to take the gloves. Well, he'll be glad it's 4-0 and not 0-0 when this is happening. I'm just delighted the goalkeeper's up on his feet, Steve, that's the important thing. Berbatov. Good challenge by Michael Carrick, I'm telling you, he's put them off. That's what he's complaining about. What a terrible back pass by O'Shea, he's done brilliantly, he's now got to get back and can never get there, he can. It looks like Djon O'Shea is going to keep a clean sheet. He is. United on the weekend, they saw Chelsea win, have responded in magnificent fashion, the lead is back to six points. Saha and Distap, the two Frenchmen, the two Parisians. Ronaldo's early ball, Distap missed it, Rooney! It's taken them just five minutes, it's a second Derby goal in his Manchester United career for Wayne Rooney, and United are in front. Do you know something, Steve, to get a break there, United, that takes a deflection. Rooney caught Samaras, headed away by Samaras. Rooney, good effort, up-moved in the air as well, beaten away by Weaver. I said he might have a break-on, but it's Samaras. Ronaldo, shot on the turn, held by Weaver. He's done well, the goalkeeper. Oh, Rooney forced the error, it's Ainsley... It's Saha! Yes! Louis Saha, right on the stroke of half-time, and what an important goal that could be. His first Derby goal for United, his 12th of the season, and they lead 2-0. Well, Steve, I think that's a great break for United, certainly poor defending. In from Barton, looking for Richards, he won it in the air again, and then a free header for Distan, and then over the crossbar the flag goes up anyway. That's a free kick, Steve. Heiland won it back, and that's a fantastic save from van der Sar. Good improvisation there from Scholes, Wayne Rooney, good save by the goalkeeper, Saha! That would have put it to bed. Oh, Louis, that was the game over. Great football by United, you've got to say, Steve. And the referee's put to Thatcher. Good, it's fouled by Kouradi. How many times has Kouradi gonna do that? He uses his elbows all the time, but I think for leverage. Timmy Booking this time, I think, for the Italian, yep. Gary Neville and Giggs playing it between them, back in from Giggs, Rooney! Terrific save from Isakson. What a save by the goalkeeper. Here's the Tunisian again, on to his left foot! Hatem Trabelsi. Rooney and Ronaldo in the penalty area. Short to Rooney. Will this come to Ronaldo?! Offside, he's offside, Steve. Goal is given. Cristiano Ronaldo with his second goal against City, and that should seal it with six minutes to go. Turn from Kouradi, oh, dear me. He's got it booked on, he's got it booked on. And he's already been booked. Kouradi, who was sent off on his Manchester City debut against Chelsea, has picked out scores, and that is the last action. It's been a big week, and it's been a winning week all the way. Derby Honours to United, by three goals to one. Where's Brown? He's set Ronaldo away here. I think the Charlotte Bulls did, because nobody's up there. Carrick's delivery. What a great header from Ronaldo, Solskjaer with the follow-up, Silvestre with the overhead effort, back in from Ronaldo. Here he is again, two players in front of him. Still gets the cross in, though, Solskjaer! He's done it again, it's two-in-two for him. He's lethal in there, isn't he? Ronaldo's cross, Solskjaer's header, Reading's resistance ended. Well, you're looking and thinking to yourself, where's Cristiano going to play this? It's a little step over a couple of tenths. Who's gonna get... Look where Ole is, right out in the right wing, he comes in there, I want it. And the rest. Van der Zaal made an early decision, but it's gone all the way in. Slank on the centre-half. They've come from behind at Old Trafford as well as Stamford Bridge. Ibrahima, Sonko, Carrick with the corner for United. Ronaldo jumping again, he's hit the woodwork. Can you believe that? It's come back out to Ronaldo and it's blocked by Sonko. That is the 13th time. Ronaldo there, he's goal side, it's still Rooney. Oh, I know he's desperate for a goal, but he's got Ryan Giggs and all his Solskjaer on his right-hand side, Steve. Ronaldo, Giggs with the touch! Side netting. Wrong side. Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs, into Rooney. Touch for Solskjaer, he's through here, it's on again to Solskjaer! And then Ronaldo! 2-1 United. And it's Ronaldo again, his fifth goal in the last three games, his second against Reading this season, and United are back in front. Here's Giggs, up against Harper. That's deflected, Ronaldo! Oh, what a chance. Sonko heads it away, Reading are rocking back there. Giggs. Still Giggs. Got the angle, Ronaldo, this time for the third game running. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored two goals, and in doing so today, has ensured it's nine points out of nine. Everyone on their feet. Wijnaldum doesn't want it to come off. This man has made three changes, then five changes, then four changes. He's utilised the squad, he's kept it fresh. Here's Lita, though. Oh, dear. That was a free kick, surely. United end the year with three points, it's nine points out of nine over a very happy festive period. Nine goals as well. Good ball in, Saha! It's taken just seven minutes of the brand-new season, and it's Louis Saha, who finished last season on fire, who opens United to count against his former club. Ronaldo wanted it, now he's got it. Saha to his left, Rooney's made the run for the early ball, and it's an own goal, I think, in the end. United won't worry, I think it's Ian Pearson who's put it past his own goalkeeper. But 15 minutes into the brand-new season, United are 2-0 up. Just a late challenge from Boa Morta. Quickly taken by Scholes, whipped in by Gary Neville, Saha, brilliant save by Nehemi, Rooney, it's 3-0! What a start to the new campaign this is. We haven't played 16 minutes, and United are 3-0 up, and Wayne Rooney has opened us the count for the new campaign. Oh, what a ball that is towards Ronaldo. And it's four! Cristiano Ronaldo has hit the back of the net as well. And everyone, Old Trafford, has to pinch themselves. Magic from him, 19 minutes gone, listen to this. Here's Ronaldo. And there's Saha. And that was an important interception from Frank Kedrew. That was a great ball in there from Cristiano Ronaldo, Steve. Helgesen, that was deflected! And in. That was deflected off Rio Ferdinand. Would you believe that? Fulham have won back six minutes before the break, with a huge deflection to help Haider Helgesen. Up against Rossinho again. Cross towards the back post, and headed over his own cross by Kedrew. Oh, that's a great ball in, Steve. I think nobody on the United side thought for one minute he was going to get that across the box from that angle. Since the United fans would just love another goal. That's a good ball from Ronaldo to Brown. Rooney wants the pullback. Is it going to reach him? It is! It's two for Rooney. It's five for United. And this opening day has just got even better. He's been majestic today, hasn't he? Rooney. Oh, wonderful weight. This is for the second for Cristiano Ronaldo. Can you believe that? Do you know what I think he was doing there? He was in half a mind whether to square that for Solskjaer. I think he should have just bluttered it, Steve. Blasted it. Solskjaer leaves it for Ronaldo. Tried to make that bounce just in front of Naimi. Good goalkeeping that, Steve. He just caught it just before it bounced. It's an opening day of the season to remember. United have beaten Fulham by five goals to one. It's a dream start. Two of the five scored by Wayne Rooney.