LANCASHIRE: A crucial last minute Carlos Tevez goal allowed United to take a critical point in today’s encounter with Blackburn. After Roque Santa Cruz put Blackburn in the lead, things started looking bleak for United.
Confusion in the box from Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand allowed to ball to pop loose in the path of Roque Santa Cruz who calmly side-footed the ball into the back of the net. The goal sent Blackburn fans into ruptures.
It took United 88 minutes to draw level. Manchester United served in a corner which Paul Scholes managed to flick on where Carlos Tevez took it and smashed it into the back of the net. What a critical goal that could prove to be with United traveling to Stamford Bridge next Saturday to face Chelsea.
Manchester United will now travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday to face Chelsea. United currently has a three point lead and a much superior goal advantage. Therefore, even a loss will leave United at the top of the league. The title remains United’s to lose.
MANCHESTER: After a first half setback, Manchester United was able to fight back and end any championship aspirations Arsenal may have had. Cristiano Ronaldo was once again on the scoresheet for Manchester United with his 28th goal of the season.
Arsenal put United into a hole just before half time when Emmanuel Adebayor scored a header. Some blame could be put on Edwin van der Sar for not taking control of his area and letting Adebayor head the ball in freely.
In the second half Manchester United were given a penalty when William Gallas handled the ball in the area. Cristiano Ronaldo then stepped up to the spot and took his first penalty kick and buried it into the back of the net. However, since Ronaldo stopped during his run up, some Arsenal players entered the area and he was forced to retake the penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up once again and this time put it in the bottom left corner perfectly where Jens Lehmann had no chance of reaching it.
The games was tied until the 72nd minute when United was handed a freekick. While the whole Arsenal team was expecting one of Ronaldo’s patented freekicks, Owen Hargreaves struck a dipping shot right over the wall into the bottom left corner of the net. Jens Lehmann was once again left helpless.
With the victory, United are now 9 points above Arsenal and 5 points above Chelsea after their slip up against Wigan.
MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez’s late goal gave Manchester United an important 1-0 victory. The 3-0 aggregate victory has put United through to the semi-final where they will meet FC Barcelona.
Manchester United had so much confidence that they left Cristiano Ronaldo off the pitch and still got a result. Ronaldo was rested for the important upcoming fixture on Sunday against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
United’s Champions League campaign will resume on April 23rd when the face FC Barcelona at Camp Nou.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 27th league goal in a uncharacteristically poor match for Manchester United. Wayne Rooney was able to rescue a point for United in wintry Middlesbrough after Alfonso Alves bagged two goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 37th goal in all competitions after a Ryan Giggs corner was headed to Ronaldo by Michael Carrick. Cristiano Ronaldo made no mistakes and spiked the ball into the back of the net. United had a few more chances in the opening 20 minutes but were not able to convert them into goals. A few minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo was able to beat three Middlesborough defenders; however, his shot did not hit the target and left a lot to be desired. Manchester United was punished in the 35th minute when Alfonso Alves bagged his first of two to equalize the match.
The second half did not get much better. Alfonso Alves once again punished the United defense and put Middlesbrough in front. Luckily Wayne Rooney was able to level things 16 minutes from time. United went all out for the equalizer and almost lost the game on a counter attack that Tuncay was not able to capitalize on.
Manchester United is now three points ahead of Chelsea.
ROME: Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney have put Manchester United in a comfortable position after scoring two away goals. Manchester United now look to be in great shape to advance to the semi-finals later this month.
Roma’s manager, Luciano Spalletti, hailed Manchester United as “the best team in the world” prior to kickoff. Francesco Totti was sidelined by a injury. Manchester United was able to dominate possession for long stretches in the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his goal by heading a ball served by Paul Scholes into the back of the net.
MANCHESTER: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez gave Manchester United a comfortable victory over Aston Villa. A match that was supposed to be a tough one for United ended up in a one sided 4-0 victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the scoring with an outrageous goal. The ball was loose in the box when Cristiano Ronaldo backheeled it into the back of the net beating the Aston Villa goal keeper. The goal put Cristiano Ronaldo’s Premiership tally at 26 goals.
Another goal was scored by Carlos Tevez in the first half that put Manchester United in a comfortable position going into half time. Two second half goals by Wayne Rooney put the result beyond doubt.
United’s next match will be on Tuesday in a Champions League match against Roma.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not participate in Portugal’s upcoming friendly with Greece in Dusseldorf, Germany on Wednesday due to an injury suffered against Liverpool.
Cristiano Ronaldo is suffering from leg muscle problems and will sit out the match on the advice of Portugal squad doctor Henrique Jones. Nani, another Manchester United player, is set to miss the match as well with the same injury.
MANCHESTER: Any title dreams that Liverpool may have had were destroyed on Easter Sunday as United beat them convincingly. The victory has put Manchester United in the lead of the Premiership with a five point edge over Chelsea with 7 games to be played.
Cristiano Ronaldo was very active in the match. In the 24th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo struck the ball only to be denied by the post. Manchester United piled on the pressure and were rewarded in the 34th minute when Wes Brown headed home a cross from Wayne Rooney. Soon after Liverpool was faced with another obstacle in their hope of a comeback when Javier Mascherano was sent off by Steve Bennett, one of the world’s worst referees, for dissent.
The second half provided no shocks. Manchester United’s two Portuguese stars were able to secure the result with goals that were less than 90 seconds apart! First Cristiano Ronaldo headed the ball into the back of the net. Then seconds Nani was able to dance through the Liverpool defense before striking home a wonder goal from the top of the box.
With Chelsea beating Arsenal 2-1, Manchester United is now a comfortable five points ahead of Chelsea. United’s next match will be at home against Aston Villa on Saturday March 29th, 2008.
MANCHESTER: Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals that Manchester United dominated at Old Trafford against struggling Bolton Wanderers. With the two league goals, Cristiano Ronaldo broke George Best’s record for goals scored in the Premiership from a midfielder.
With the victory, Manchester United was able to slide into the first position in the Premiership. With the absence of Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo was given the captain armband for the first time in his United career.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in a half volley when the ball came back out near the penalty spot. The strike put Manchester United in a comfortable position for the rest of the match. Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal was a magnificent free-kick. Ronaldo released his powerful patented swerving and dipping shot from 30 yards, leaving the goal keeper with no chance whatsoever.
United’s next match will be against Liverpool on Easter Sunday.
DERBY: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the game winning goal to put Manchester United at the top of the Premiership. Derby was able to frustrated United for 85 minutes, before Cristiano Ronaldo was able to secure the result.
Derby was very resilient throughout the match. They certainly did not look like a team that was only able to snatch one victory all season long. Ronaldo scored his goal from close range with only 14 minutes to go. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the league with 22 Premiership goals this season.
