Ronaldo makes it six and counting

Manchester United 4-1 Derby County

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his excellent recent goalscoring form with another strike – hitting the net for the sixth successive match – as Manchester United eased to a comfortable victory over Derby at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese had a hand in both of United’s opening two goals before adding another in injury time, in what were miserable conditions at the Theatre of Dreams. Meanwhile, compatriot Nani was left out of the match squad for the second game in succession.

With Derby coming into the game bottom of the Premiership with just five goals scored this season, many predicted a rout for the home side. However, for much of the opening thirty-five minutes, United rarely tested Stephen Bywater in the Derby goal.

In keeping with recent form, Ronaldo was at the heart of much of United’s main threat, wit the 22-year-old’s burst from midfield and a left-footed shot that trickled wide of the post on 13 minutes the first real glimpse of the Portuguese.

Livewire Ronaldo

Ronaldo then almost created a goal for Wayne Rooney, but the England forward was somehow beaten to the low cross by James McEveley, while Ryan Giggs and Ronaldo were both off target with free-kicks.

Having been frustrated for 35 minutes, United put the Derby goal under incessant pressure during a five-minute spell that ended with the opening goal. Ronaldo was the provider, receiving possession on the left of the penalty area, cutting in on his right foot and hammering a shot at Bywater, which was parried into the path of Giggs, who scored his 100th league goal for the club from close-range.

The lead was almost doubled straight away when Giggs’ wonderful long pass put Rooney through on goal, but the post denied the 21-year-old his first goal since his comeback from injury after Rooney had lifted the ball over Bywater.

Instead, United’s second arrived in the final minute of the half, with Ronaldo again playing his part. Lining up a free-kick 25 metres from goal, most in the ground were expecting a trademark shot, but Ronaldo fooled everyone by playing the ball into the penalty area that, after a scramble, Carlos Tevez tucked away at the second attempt.

Entertaining second half

Derby contributed to an open second half, in which United added a third goal just before the hour mark. Minutes after Giggs’ had connected with a Wes Brown cross but been denied by the post, the United right-back fed Tevez inside the area and with time and space afforded, the Argentine drilled a shot into the bottom corner.

United boss Alex Ferguson reacted by making three substitutions in quick succession, with Anderson, Giggs and Ferdinand withdrawn ahead of the midweek trip to Roma. Rooney went close on two occasions before Derby then pulled a goal back when Steve Howard scored from five metres after a run down the right from Mears.

Ronaldo had the last word, though, when he went down rather easily under a challenge from Mears inside the area and the referee awarded a penalty. The former Sporting man took the kick himself, disguising his run-up and slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

Man Utd:
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (O'Shea 71), Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher 62), Giggs (Saha 64), Rooney, Tevez
Yellow Cards: None

Derby:
Bywater, Griffin, Moore, Davis, McEveley (Howard 46), Leacock, Fagan (Mears 46), Oakley, Pearson, Barnes (Teale 61), Miller
Yellow Cards: Davis, Griffin

Goals:
[1-0] Giggs, 40
[2-0] Tevez, 45
[3-0] Tevez, 60
[3-1] Howard, 76
[4-1] Ronaldo, 90 (pen)