Ronaldo brace stretches United's lead at the top

Manchester United 3 Reading 2

Cristiano Ronaldo provided Sir Alex Ferguson the 65th birthday present he wanted more than any other as Manchester United stretched their lead at the Premiership summit to six points.

For the third time in eight days over the Festive period, Ronaldo struck twice, on this occasion ensuring the brave efforts of 10-man Reading counted for nothing.

It took the winger’s tally for the season to 11, enhancing still further his player of the year claims and the belief of those within the Red Devils camp that the 21-year-old is currently the best player on the planet. But it is the championship trophy Ronaldo, his team-mates and his success-hungry manager crave most of all.

And, though they were forced to endure a nervy few minutes after Leroy Lita had dragged Reading back into the contest in stoppage time, the momentum is with United now and Chelsea will need to stand stronger than they have ever done under Jose Mourinho to stop them.

Not that Ronaldo is the only key man at United just now. Overshadowed by the winger’s blistering form, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rejuvenation into a top-class, top flight performer has nevertheless been one of the stories of United’s season.

Even as recently as the Red Devils summer tour to South Africa, Ferguson was expressing doubts over Solskjaer’s ability to make an impact at the highest level.

Now, the Scot has no such worries and 24 hours before kick-off confidently predicted the 33-year-old would reach 15 goals for the season.

Solskjaer now has eight, showing all those old predatory instincts to escape Sonko’s attentions, arriving at the near post with perfect timing to head into the bottom corner.

Up to that point, it appeared the Reading goal would enjoy a charmed life.

Keeper Marcus Hahnemann twice got away with fumbles close to his own line, making up for those handling errors by keeping out Ronaldo’s piledriver.

Amid the United attacks though, Reading were holding their own, proving their previous draw with the Red Devils this term, and their Boxing Day efforts against Chelsea were no fluke.

Lifelong Red Devils fan Glen Little should have done much better when Kevin Doyle found him with a cut-back and Leroy Lita had already wasted an excellent chance when Sonko capitalised on Van der Sar’s rare blunder.

It was the Senegal defender’s first goal since March and represented swift redemption for his earlier mistake.

United’s response was almost immediate as Ronaldo hit the bar before the break then, following the half-time introduction of Ryan Giggs, Solskjaer brought a superb save out of Hahnemann with a glancing near-post header.

Rooney also went close with a curling shot after he had been sent through by Ronaldo, part of an attacking onslaught in which United noticeably increased the speed of their game, hitting a level which Reading just could not match.

The move which brought Ronaldo the latest addition to his glittering season was simply sensational.

One touches passes from Giggs and Rooney sent Solskjaer flying into the area past Sonko. The striker’s shot might have got the faintest of touches from Hahnemann as it bounced onto the post but the rebound fell straight to Ronaldo, who gleefully bundled it home.

By that stage, Reading were being pinned back deep in their own half and the visitors’ flagging hopes of rescuing something from the game were virtually ended when referee Mike Dean sent Sam Sodje off for his second bookable offence, pulling back Rooney, just five minutes after his introduction as a substitute.

It appeared a harsh decision, particularly as the far side assistant was flagging for offside at the time.

Ronaldo was in no mood to ease off though and was on hand to volley home from close range when Ryan Giggs picked him out with a far post cross. The strike probably came as no surprise to Royals boss Steve Coppell, a legendary Red Devils winger himself, whoidentified England’s World Cup nemesis as United’s danger man.

Coppell could be rightly proud of his side’s efforts and saw Lita bag another for Reading his side, who contributed fully to an excellent advert for Premiership football.