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Scintillating Ronaldo nets hat-trick as Man Utd demolish Newcastle

Manchester United 6-0 Newcastle United

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first ever hat-trick as Manchester United returned to the top of the Premiership with a resounding victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford.

All six goals came in the second half, with Ronaldo opening the scoring from a free-kick early in the second period and Carlos Tevez getting a brace and Rio Ferdinand scoring a rare goal to produce an emphatic scoreline that did not flatter the hosts.

United dominated the first half, but most of the chances fell to an unusually profligate Wayne Rooney. Michael Carrick and Tevez were both involved in the buildup as Rooney blazed over after just a few minutes, before Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given denied the forward with a good save.

Ronaldo to the fore

Ronaldo then took centre stage when he was denied what appeared a strong case for a penalty by Rob Styles, the referee who issued the Portuguese with a yellow card for diving before Christmas. United then had another shout for a spot-kick waved away following Alan Smith’s challenge on Ryan Giggs.

Increasingly frustrated at what he felt was harsh treatment from the official, Ronaldo stung Given’s hands with a 20-metre drive, having headed wide from a corner minutes before. However, the visitors – currently without a manager – managed to reach half time with the score level.

Despite a frustrating first half, United grew stronger after the break and took the lead five minutes into the second period. Ronaldo was awarded a somewhat generous free-kick after appearing to kick the ground when lining up a strike at goal, but the 22-year-old took advantage by cleverly playing the ball under the wall and in off the outstretched hand of Given.

United were relentless after taking the lead and peppered the Newcastle goal for the remainder of the half, although the visitors were partly responsible for their own downfall when Given’s poor kick allowed Giggs to cross for Tevez to double the home side’s lead.

Clinical Ronaldo

Charles N’Zogbia, who was a rare bright spark for the Magpies, drew a good save from van Der Sar, but United soon made it three when Tevez’s throughball was expertly controlled and dispatched past Given by Ronaldo for his second.

The champions continued to show their opponents no mercy and young substitute Danny Simpson went close to a first ever professional goal on two occasions, while Given made an excellent stop to deny the unlucky Rooney.

It was Ferdinand – so outstanding in defence this season – who added the fourth when Rooney picked him out at the back post with a floated cross and the defender brilliantly cushioned his finish inside Given’s near post.

Ronaldo’s first treble arrived with two minutes of normal time remaining. The former Sporting man received possession inside the area and sold a dummy to Claudio Cacapa to shift the ball onto his left foot, before drilling the ball home with the help of a deflection.

Carrick had a shot cleared off the line shortly afterward before Tevez put the shine on an exceptional second-half performance when he converted from close range off the inside of the crossbar, while Alan Smith summed up Newcastle frustrations by receiving a late red card for his overly-aggressive protestations to the referee.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

“It’s a very special day. It’s always important to score and help my team. I said before if I score two every game I’m happy but I’ve waited many years to score three for this massive club.

“It’s important to stay top of the table. If we play like we did in the second half I’m sure we’re the best team so we need to keep going.”

Man Utd:
van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Simpson 67), Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher 72), Giggs (Nani 72), Rooney, Tevez
Yellow Cards: Rooney

Newcastle:
Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Milner (Viduka 64), Smith, Butt, N'Zogbia, Duff, Owen (Rozehnal 82)
Red Cards: Smith

Goals:
[1-0] Ronaldo, 49
[2-0] Tevez, 55
[3-0] Ronaldo, 70
[4-0] Ferdinand, 85
[5-0] Ronaldo, 88
[6-0] Tevez, 90