Manchester United v AC Milan

 

Manchester United FC came from behind to win a pulsating UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg thanks to a last-minute goal from Wayne Rooney.

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Ronaldo earns award double

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player in 30 years to win the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards after beating Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas to both accolades on Sunday night.

 Cristiano Ronaldo é o primeiro jogador em 30 anos para ganhar o jogador de PFA e o jogador novo das concessões do ano após Didier Drogba de Chelsea batendo e Cesc Fabregas do arsenal a ambos os accolades na noite de domingo.

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MANCHESTER UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH, 1-1

 

Middlesbrough claimed a deserved draw against leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford to blast the Barclays Premiership title race wide open.

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Pele about Cristiano Ronaldo

 

Pele believes Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo will have to wait “one or two years more” before he deserves to be called the best player in the world.

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MANCHESTER UNITED v SHEFFIELD UNITED, 2-0

Injury-ravaged Manchester United are limping towards the Barclays Premiership title finishing line as a routine home win over Sheffield United was accompanied by yet another defensive fitness problem. Patrice Evra was forced off in the first half following a tackle from behind by Colin Kazim-Richards, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson without a single member of his first-choice defence, including keeper Edwin van der Sar. Yet nothing, it seems, will halt United’s drive for the championship. After Michael Carrick’s early opener, Wayne Rooney drilled home a brilliant second at the start of the second half. It takes Rooney’s goal tally for the season to 20, just one adrift of Cristiano Ronaldo – who had a quiet night by his own high standards. The result left Chelsea six points adrift heading into their trip to West Ham United, but Ferguson’s most immediate priority will probably be a body count rather than worrying about Jose Mourinho and his team. In the end, even with possible starters John O’Shea and Rio Ferdinand not included, Ferguson opted against handing 18-year-old Craig Cathcart his debut. Instead, the United boss entrusted the right-back role to Darren Fletcher, hoping the Scot’s extra experience would make up for his lack of familiarity with the position. With Wes Brown and Gabriel Heinze occupying the central defensive roles and Tomasz Kuszczak handed a rare start in goal due to Van der Sar’s injury, United were not so much down to the bare bones as the marrow. And the situation got worse after just 20 minutes with Evra’s departure. His replacement Kieran Richardson – like Fletcher, an out-of position midfielder – initially struggled as his desire to get forward led to gaps appearing at the back. As in the FA Cup semi-final with Watford on Saturday when Ferdinand picked up his groin strain, the one saving grace for United was that by the time Evra departed, they were already in front courtesy of Carrick’s fourth goal in six games. Hardly a renowned scorer when he arrived from Tottenham Hotspur, the £18.6million midfielder has suddenly hit form. After Ronaldo had found him with an inspired short pass, Carrick lifted his shot over Kenny to give the hosts a perfect start. Had Rooney not smashed a shot straight at Kenny on United’s next attack, the points would have been wrapped up there and then. Instead, the hosts were forced to endure a few nervy moments, with Luton Shelton to the fore on his first Barclays Premiership start, before Rooney eventually bagged a second four minutes after the break. Two Champions League goals and a couple against Watford had already indicated Rooney is not suffering the kind of form crisis some have suggested. His latest finish, one touch to control Ryan Giggs’ chipped pass and a second to blast the ball into the corner, merely emphasised the point. While the visitors were sprightly foes, they were repeatedly indebted to Kenny for keeping the score down. For a big man, Kenny showed admirable agility to get down to his near post and deny Ronaldo, then needed all his strength to remain standing as Alan Smith slammed a shot into his chest. Another save from Ryan Giggs followed, although by then the Blades had had a sustained penalty appeal waved away as Shelton went down under Heinze’s challenge. If the spot-kick award had come, Heinze would surely have been sent off too, bringing with it an automatic suspension. Given the defensive crisis unfolding in front of his eyes, Ferguson’s men might have struggled to cope. As it was, they escaped on all counts. Goals: MAN UTD 4′ M Carrick MAN UTD 50′ W Rooney Attendance: 75540

Terry about cR 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chelsea captain has described Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been nominated by his fellow professionals for both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, as `the best in the world’.

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terry talks about cR

John Terry believes the momentum is with Chelsea ahead of a potential hat-trick of showdowns against Manchester United. Yet, at a time when Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho might be shaping up for an exchange of mind games, the England captain is making no secret of his deep admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo.”For me he is the best in the world at the moment,” said Terry. “How do I stop him? I pass him on to Ashley Cole.”

Watford – Manchester United 1-4

Wayne Rooney’s brace ensured Manchester United were the first side to book a place in the first Cup Final held at the new Wembley Stadium.

The England forward lashed home a stunning opener before tapping in midway through the second half as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men coasted past Watford.

The dazzling Cristiano Ronaldo also got in on the act, as did Kieran Richardson, while Watford’s sole highlight was Hameur Bouazza’s stunning volley which had drawn the Londoners level in the first half.

Just hours after Silver Birch successfully negotiated Aintree’s famous course, Manchester United, the Premier League’s thoroughbred, looked as if they would canter to Wembley after taking a seventh minute lead.

The reinvigorated Alan Smith let Michael Carrick’s pass run through to Rooney who cut inside Adrian Mariappa before unleashing a rocket from the edge of the box which soared into the roof of the net past the despairing Richard Lee.

Lee had to be alert to prevent United doubling their lead four minutes later. The tenacious Smith robbed his Watford namesake Tommy before playing in Ronaldo. The Portuguese aimed a low cross to Rooney but Lee bravely dived to smoother.

After being penned in for the first 18 minutes like a quarantined dog, Watford began to get a footing in the game. Jay DeMerit, the American defender whose rise from non-League football is nothing short of Hollywood, rose highest to head Smith’s free-kick goalwards, only for a deflection to divert it over.

Bouazza went closer on 22 minutes. Anyone who saw his stunning goal against Plymouth will know of his lethal left boot, but on this occasion, his effort from 20 yards drifted past the far post.The Algerian got it right four minutes later, much to the delight of the sea of yellow shirts in the Holte End. After a long delay to treat Edwin van der Sar, Smith crossed when play resumed to Bouazza whose spectacular volley flashed past the United keeper and in off the crossbar.

But Watford’s joy was short-lived however. After Rooney had won the ball on the right flank, the England forward sped to the goal-line before crossing for Ronaldo who, despite being the meat in a Watford sandwich, tapped home.

Gavin Mahon, Watford’s talismanic skipper, almost conjured up an instant response two minutes later with a powerful drive from the edge of the box which was too hot for van der Sar to hold.

But United broke at pace, their classic trait, and only a timely intervention from DeMerit prevented Ronaldo a clear route on goal.

At the other end Damien Francis might have done better with a header when he was left unmarked from Bouazza’s corner on 35 minutes.

The underdogs would have been taken heart by the sight of Rio Ferdinand limping off moments later, but they had Lee to thank for keeping a Wembley Final in sight on the stroke of half-time.

After another sublime United move, Rooney seemed destined to score his side’s third from close range when Lee instinctively stuck out his left hand to push the ball over.

Watford began the second period with renewed enthusiasm and it was the excellent Bouazza who almost dragged them level but his volley through the melee trickled wide.

United put a foot in the Final on 66 minutes when Rooney netted his second. After Clarke Carlisle’s outstretched leg temporarily stopped a United attack, Smith collected the loose ball and crossed low to Rooney who gratefully accepted the tap-in.

The United fans sang ‘Que Sera Sera’, their place at Wembley seemingly assured, but for Rooney, a Semi-Final hat-trick beckoned. Smith did his best to help his team-mate when he cut a pass back but Rooney scuffed his shot straight at Lee.

Kieran Richardson, a 78th minute substitute for Ronaldo, gave the scoreline a slightly harsh look when he raced on to Smith pass and calmly slotted home.

For Watford, a 100 mile journey back to North London to contemplate what might have been. For United, Wembley awaits.

Watford: Lee, Chambers (Kabba 70), Stewart, Carlisle, DeMerit, Francis, Mahon, Mariappa (Doyley 88), Priskin (King 78), Bouazza, Smith.

Subs not used: Loach, Bangura.

Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Evra, Heinze, Ferdinand (Fletcher 41), Brown, Ronaldo (Richardson 78), Rooney, Giggs (Solskjaer 83), Smith, Carrick, Scholes.

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Cathcart.

Referee: Howard Webb.

Assistant Referees: Phil Sharp and Glenn Turner.

Fourth Official: Martin Atkinson.

Attendance: 37,425

source: http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/UnitedWatford.htm

cristiano – watford

I’m here to stay for £31m – cR

Cristiano Ronaldo last night warned the rest of Europe that he is only going to get better after signing a new five-year contract with Manchester United worth a staggering £6.2million a year.The 22-year-old winger completed the deal yesterday to give him a new weekly wage of £119,000 which outstrips that of Rio Ferdinand who was the club’s highest earner.

 

The lucrative deal is also designed to keep him from the clutches of Real Madrid.

United manager Ferguson took a swipe at Madrid for trying to lure his star player to Spain and confessed he was momentarily worried about whether Ronaldo would stay.

But Ronaldo said: “Everything is sorted and I’m happy here. I never wanted to leave. I have good friends and colleagues here and everybody has helped me so much since I came here when I was 18.

“I want to win trophies at this club and I think that is what will happen. I’ve improved a lot since I’ve been in Manchester and I think that will continue. I will improve more.”

Ferguson was last night continuing efforts to take midfielder Owen Hargreaves to Old Trafford and it is understood the Bayern Munich star’s signature could be the next good news to be revealed by the club.

Bayern’s exit from the Champions League this week has speeded up the deal and it is now thought that Hargreaves could be a United player as soon as the season is over.

Ferguson said: “The Spanish clubs kept talking about Cristiano as they don’t care about United or anybody else. They just care about themselves.

“When that happens constantly you do worry about the substance of it. But you know deep down it’s a game they play over there.

“It’s no use complaining to UEFA as nothing much would be done.”

Asked if Ronaldo could one day be spoken of in the same breath as world greats Pele and Maradona, Ferguson did not dismiss the notion.

“I think Cristiano is the best player in the world,” he said. “He has the skills of those players.

“Whether he will be remembered like those players is the challenge for him now.”

United face Watford in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park today, with 2,000 Watford seats unsold.

Ferguson said: “There’s something wrong in the game when we get fewer seats than Watford.

“Our fans will be disappointed with that and I find it surprising.”