Captain Ronaldo takes another step towards legendary status

Manchester United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his first match as Manchester United captain with two goals to help the champions to a comfortable win over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

The brace sees the Portuguese winger overtake George Best as the highest ever Manchester United scorer in one season for a non-striker - and there are still at least 10 matches remaining!

The Portuguese struck twice inside the opening twenty minutes to set United up for a victory which extends their lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premiership to three points.

In a much changed United side, Nani was also given a run-out on the left flank, with the 21-year-old looking dangerous throughout. The first chance of the match fell to Carlos Tevez, who was put through by Louis Saha but could not gain full control of the ball to take advantage of the opportunity.

The home crowd would not have to wait long for the opening goal, however, as Ronaldo put the champions ahead in the 9th minute from the following corner. The Portugal no.17 contested the delivery in the air, but ultimately converted with a scrappy finish from inside the area, striking the ball into the ground and past Al Habsi.

Nani then registered a good effort on his right foot, coming in from the left and firing a shot over the crossbar, before United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuzsczak was called into action to deny Guthrie at the back post after a rare bright move from the visitors.

Trademark free-kick

Ronaldo effectively killed off the game with less than twenty minutes on the clock with a trademark free-kick. Lining up the a shot from all of twenty-five metres, the former Sporting man strode forward and struck a crisp drive which flew inside Al Habsi’s left-hand post, taking Ronaldo to 24 league goals for the season.

United continued to go close for the remainder of the half, with Tevez and Nani both threatening, but the second period ended up a routine exercise for the champions, who no doubt had one eye on Sunday’s top of the table clash with bitter rivals Liverpool.

Nani and Ronaldo provided two of the more memorable moments in the second forty-five minutes. First Nani’s well struck free-kick, which appeared destined for the bottom corner, was beaten away by Al-Habsi, before Ronaldo’s mazy run and powerful finish was also well stopped by the Oman international.

Al-Habsi would be forced to make a further stop from Nani at his near post, while the young Portuguese was guilty of poor decision making when electing to shoot rather than pass at the end of a rapid counter attack, but the Red Devils happily cruised to another three points and a potentially telling advantage at the top of the Premiership.

Man Utd:
Kuszczak, Hargreaves, Pique, Vidic (Brown 58), O’Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson (Scholes 70), Nani, Saha (Rooney 70), Tevez
Yellow Cards: None

Bolton:
Al Habsi, Steinsson, Meite (Hunt 46), Andrew O’Brien, Gardner, Diouf, McCann, Guthrie (Giannakopoulos 82), Joey O’Brien, Taylor, Davies
Yellow Cards: Andrew O'Brien, Steinsson

Goals:
[1-0] Ronaldo, 9
[2-0] Ronaldo, 19