Pure genius: the Cristiano Ronaldo show rolls on

Manchester United 2-0 Portsmouth

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in the space of three minutes to fire Manchester United to victory over Portsmouth and return the champions back to the Premiership summit.

The Portuguese’s early double, which included a sensational free-kick, set up a comfortable victory for United, while countryman Nani also impressed on a rare start in midfield.

United were on the front foot from the first whistle, with a visiting side that did not include Pedro Mendes looking significantly weakened by the absence of their African players on international duty in Ghana.

Nani, who occupied the left flank, and Ronaldo, playing up front, combined for United to open the scoring on ten minutes with a superbly worked move. Ronaldo chested Paul Scholes’ pass down to Nani, who fed the ball through to his compatriot on the inside left of the area, leaving Ronaldo to calmly slot the ball inside David James’ near post for his 26th goal of the season.

Magical free-kick

Number twenty-seven was soon to follow, and even by his set-piece standards it was a remarkable free-kick from the Portuguese. From around twenty metres and several feet wide of the post, Ronaldo smashed an unstoppable drive over the wall and into the top corner, leaving James rooted as the ball flew past him.

Ronaldo drew a double-handed save from James with another free-kick shortly after, while Wes Brown went close from a corner and Nani cut inside and fired wide following more good work from Ronaldo.

The second half was similarly one-sided, although United were often in second gear, no doubt conserving their energy for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham. Rio Ferdinand’s header from a corner was tipped over by James, who also made a superb double save to deny Ji-Sung Park and Nani.

Ronaldo fluffed an excellent chance to seal his hat-trick, before Nani unleashed a rasping 25-metre drive that flew inches over the crossbar. Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, as well as Scholes, were then replaced, with substitute Anderson almost notching his first goal for the club after a mazy run late on as United allowed Portsmouth to escape with a flattering two-goal defeat.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

“My goalscoring streak? I need to say thank you to my team-mates because they help me a lot; they give me good service; they give me confidence. It’s not just Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals; if I don’t play with these players I don’t score these goals. I feel great playing with these players, I know these players and it’s a pleasure and I feel very proud to score the goals.

“With these free-kicks you need to think only about passing the wall, because after I know if the ball is on target it will be difficult for the goalkeeper to catch because the ball moves a little.

“My best ever? Maybe. I scored one against the European XI here which was good, but maybe this is the best. I saw the replay in the dressing room and I feel very good because I work in training and the results are coming on the pitch. When you work, the goals and the nice things come.”

Manchester United:
Van Der Sar, Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Scholes (Anderson, 62), Park, Nani, Ronaldo (Hargreaves, 73), Rooney (Tevez, 73)
Yellow Cards: None

Portsmouth:
James, Johnson, Lauren (Mvuemba, 46), Distin (Hreidarsson, 46), Campbell, Pamarot, Davis, Diarra, Kranjcar, Benjani, Baros (Hughes, 78)
Yellow Cards: Pamarot

Goals:
[1-0] Ronaldo, 10
[2-0] Ronaldo, 13