Manchester United 2 (Ronaldo 9,11) Portsmouth 0
A walk in the park for United as Ronaldo’s two early goals saw United get an easy win at home to go back to the top of the league.
It was quite an odd team selection for United as Rooney and Ronaldo were up front and Scholes returned to partner Carrick in midfield and Nani and Park were the wide boys. But any fears that too many wide boys would spoil the performance were gone in just nine minutes as Nani played in Ronaldo who side footed the ball past David James. It was the culmination of total dominance from United from the kick off, and Portsmouth were swept aside by the powerful start.
David James was making his 500th Premiership start but probably wished that he’d not bothered getting up this morning after Ronaldo’s second goal. I think the word to describe the freekick is astonishing. When Beckham took a freekic, you sort of knew where it was going (even if you couldn’t get to it) and how he did it, but I really can’t work out how he gets the ball to move like it does. I’ve kicked the odd free kick in my time (my technique could best be described as a slow motion Beckham curler that always went over the bar) but I couldn’t even attempt it. Find a video of this free kick as soon as you can, just to see it as I can’t really describe it. He gets on his tiptoes then sidefoots through the ball, across the ball and then into the net. The movement of the ball is also very weird; left, right straight. James had no chance as it passed a millimetre inside both the bar and post.
I might as well describe the free kick for another three paragraphs because the rest of the game was a let down. Portsmouth never got close to the goal (Vidic back and on top form); I don’t think Van der Sar had a save to make. United missed chance after chance. I felt sorry for Rooney in the end, because he is being outclassed by Ronaldo, and he’s having trouble scoring. However, say what you like about young Wayne, he keeps trying and he looks like he is happier. Smiling with Campbell after out muscling him but the mis hitting the lob over James so that he didn’t reach the goalline.
The only downside to today was the performance of Park. He just didn’t reach the standards of the other United players. He got into good positions but constantly messed up once he had the ball in those positions. It was good to see Paul Scholes back on the pitch. His passing was superb, and there was one full blooded tackle that he actually timed right. Scholes and Carrick were back together; making their Championship winning partnership again. But I feel their time is numbered. Scholes just because of age, but Carrick isn’t close to Anderson in drive, tackling and passing already, and Hargreaves is the proper defensive midfield partner to Anderson.
In the end 2-0 was flattering on Portsmouth and United stepped off the gas because it was too easy. My only concern would have been a similar situation against a better team and that team getting back into it. Of course, we have a great defence as well, and that wasn’t tested at all tonight. Find the highlights of this game, but stop at half time.
The Old Trafford crowd were loud and fully part of the game too. Was there some Fergie mind games going on with the supporters as well as players and managers 
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United progressed to the 5th round of the FA Cup after an entertaining tie was decided when Tottenham’s Dawson was sent off for handball and Ronaldo scored from the resulting penalty.
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