Fuente: © Manchester United
http://www.manutd.com/

Euro Glory: Lisbon home

Cristiano Ronaldo was the match-winner against former side Sporting Lisbon for the second time in the season, firing home a stunning injury-time free-kick as United came from behind to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Champions League.

/noticias.info/ UEFA Champions League Matchday 5
27 Nov 2007, Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Tevez, 61, Ronaldo, 90)
SPORTING LISBON 1 (Abel, 21)

On the pitch: It's safe to say Sporting Lisbon were sick of the sight of Cristiano Ronaldo after this latest meeting. Once a hero at Sporting, the Reds’ winger returned to haunt his former club back in September and he left them reeling once more with a last minute winner that cemented United’s place as Group F winners. The winger fired a trademark dipping, swerving free-kick past the helpless Rui Patricio in the second minute of injury time to maintain the Reds’ 100 per cent record. A draw looked the most likely result after the Reds had drawn level through substitute Carlos Tevez after Sporting defender Abel had given the visitors a shock lead after 21 minutes. But Ronaldo ensured he had the final say, once again.

Star man: Carlos Tevez. At a time when United needed tenacity and hunger, the Argentine squeezed both into a 45-minute cameo to turn the game in the Reds' favour. He drew United level just after the hour, although he knew very little about it. Evra did well to rescue a loose ball and fizzed in a cross which deflected to Ronaldo via Saha. The winger’s subsequent effort on goal looked to be heading wide, but somehow ended up in the back of the net after a double deflection off Marian Had and Tevez.

How United lined up: Kuszczak; O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher (Giggs 46), Carrick, Anderson, Nani (Tevez 46); Ronaldo, Saha (Hargreaves 79).

Talking point: Tomasz Kuszczak may have admitted culpability for Lisbon's opener, but the stopper could do little about what Sir Alex described afterwards as a "freak" goal. As the Reds’ defence, including Kuszczak, prepared to deal with a cross from Abel on the right wing, the defender opted to go for goal instead, despite being virtually on the touchline, and somehow squeezed a powerful effort inside the near post. Crazy stuff.

What the papers said: "Just as in Lisbon in September, Ronaldo did not make a meal of the kind of strike which keeps him as joint top scorer in this tournament with five goals. But the shrug of his shoulder, outstretched arms and his manager's barely concealed grin said everything. "Fabulous" was how the winger later described it. Not modest. But accurate." – Ian Herbert, The Independent

Around the grounds: In the night's other Group F fixture Mirko Vucinic scored twice as Roma confirmed their place in the knockout phase with a comfortable win in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Arsenal went down 3-1 away to Sevilla. notas_de_prensa_archivo