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Ronaldo nets again as United beat Bolton

Manchester United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a controversial penalty on his first league start of the season to help Manchester United to victory over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese was deemed to have been fouled inside the area early in the second half, and the former Sporting man converted from the spot to score his second goal in the space of five days. Ronaldo later set up substitute Wayne Rooney for a second with a clever back-heel before he was replaced by compatriot Nani.

United dominated the match from start to finish, although a lack of sharpness in the final third meant that despite going close through Dimitar Berbatov’s header and chances for Ji-Sung Park and Rio Ferdinand, the visitors went into the break having restricted the champions to minimal clear-cut opportunities. Meanwhile, Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba should have given his side the lead, only to miss a glaring chance just before the interval.

Ronaldo strikes post

The Red Devils resumed their dominance during the early stages of the second period, and Ronaldo gave the Bolton defence a stern warning when he struck the woodwork. Gary Neville’s cross fell kindly for the 23-year old just inside the area, and Ronaldo made space for a shot, which he failed to connect properly with, but which had Jaaskelainen scrambling before hitting the base of the post.

Having held out well against the waves of United pressure, Bolton were unlucky to concede the spot kick just before the hour. Trotters’ left-back J-Lloyd Samuel made a clean tackle on Ronaldo inside the box, only for the seemingly well-positioned referee Rob Styles to award the penalty. Ronaldo resumed duties from twelve yards for the first time since his infamous miss in Moscow, but this time coolly slotted his kick to the left of Jaaskelainen.

Ricardo Vaz Te followed up his fleeting appearance for Bolton last weekend with another cameo on 66 minutes, but the visitors barely managed to get out of their own half during the remainder of the game and the former Farense striker was given little service in order to make an impact.

The match was made safe on 77 minutes, with Ronaldo now turning provider for Rooney, who was left on the bench by Alex Ferguson. Rooney played Ronaldo in on the left of the penalty are and the Portuguese used a clever back-heel to return the ball to the England striker, with Rooney using a deft dummy to buy himself some space before dispatching a clinical low shot across Jaaskelainen and into the bottom corner.

Nani goes close

Nani made a late appearance for United, coming on in place of Ronaldo, and the 21-year-old quickly drew a save from Jaaskelainen as United went close with late chances for Paul Scholes and Nani again, this time narrowly missing the far post with a curling shot that had the Bolton ‘keeper beaten.

Manchester United:
Van Der Sar, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fletcher, Anderson (Scholes), Park, Ronaldo (Nani), Tevez (Rooney), Berbatov

Bolton Wanderers:
Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Samuel, O’Brien, Cahill, McCann, Muamba, Nolan, Gardner (Smolarek), Davies, Elmander (Vaz Te)
Yellow Cards: McCann, Elmander, Davies

Goals:
[1-0] Ronaldo (pen), 60’
[2-0] Rooney, 77’