Sporting beaten by last-gasp Ronaldo stunner

Manchester United 2-1 Sporting

Sporting bowed out of the Champions League but secured a Uefa Cup place after Cristiano Ronaldo’s stoppage time free-kick saw Manchester United come from behind to claim all three points at Old Trafford.

As was the case at Alvalade in the group’s opening match between the sides, former Sporting man Ronaldo condemned his former club to defeat, but Roma’s victory over Dynamo Kiev guaranteed the Portuguese side further European action in the Uefa Cup.

Sporting were positive from the outset, resulting in an open game, and United were afforded plenty of space in the final third in the initial exchanges. Ronaldo looked the liveliest of the home players and executed a superb back-heel to provide a chance for Saha, but after weathering the early spell of United pressure, Sporting grew into the match.

Moutinho shot wide from long-range, before right-back Abel stunned the 75,000 home crowd with a powerful drive from the right flank that beat stand-in goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak at his near post, giving the visitors the lead.

Dubious decision

Sporting, who continued to grow in confidence, may feel aggrieved not to have got a second shortly afterward. Anderson Polga fired the ball into the danger area and Liedson prodded home, only for the linesman to raise his flag to give an offside decision that appeared dubious after television replays.

The Portuguese finished the half the stronger side, leading to United manager Alex Ferguson making an uncharacteristic double switch at the break. Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez were introduced in place of Darren Fletcher and the disappointing Nani.

The result was a much more intense style of play from the Red Devils and Sporting found themselves on the back foot for the majority of the second period. Nemanja Vidic headed wide when unmarked from a corner, as United offered a much more serious goal threat.

The breakthrough for the Premiership champions came on the hour mark through a touch of fortune. Good work on the left from Patrice Evra saw the Frenchman cut the ball back for Ronaldo, whose attempted shot ricochet off Tevez and Sporting defender Had before trickling over the line.

Patricio save

Tevez then showed great skill to pick out Ronaldo with a cross to the back post, but the Portugal star could not get his header on target. Young Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who looked assured in goal for much of the night, then denied substitute Owen Hargreaves after the England midfielder had been put through by Anderson.

As Sporting began to tire, United relentlessly poured forward in search of the goal that would guarantee top spot in the group, but the late goal would come from a piece of brilliance from a set piece.

Anderson won a free-kick 25 metres from goal and Ronaldo stepped up to hammer a ferocious shot past Patricio and into the top corner for his fifth goal of the competition.

Man Utd:
Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson, Fletcher (Tevez 46), Nani (Giggs 46), Saha (Hargreaves 79)
Yellow Cards: Evra, Ronaldo

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel, Anderson Polga, Tonel, Had, Izmailov (Bruno Pereirinha 81), Joao Moutinho, Romagnoli (Vukcevic 67), Veloso, Purovic (Farnerud 81), Liedson
Yellow Cards: Had, Polga

Goal:
[0-1] Abel, 22
[1-1] Tevez, 61
[2-1] Ronaldo, 90