Ronaldo scores against Portsmouth Sunday, November 05, 2006
Manchester United marked Sir Alex Ferguson's 20th anniversary at Old Trafford in appropriate style by beating Portsmouth 3-0 to pull clear at the top of the Premiership.
A Louis Saha penalty, a spectacular Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick and a second-half header from Nemanja Vidic sent United three points ahead of champions Chelsea, who face a tough trip across London to Tottenham on Sunday.
Ferguson, who celebrates two decades at Old Trafford on Monday, insisted there would be no pre-match presentation or guard of honour. But his players ensured the occasion was marked in fitting style.
With barely two minutes gone, Wayne Rooney burst into the Portsmouth box and won a penalty that Louis Saha converted. Seven minutes later, a foul on the French striker led to a free-kick, which Ronaldo rifled in from 30 yards. Vidic made the points absolutely safe in the 66th-minute, heading Gary Neville's cross powerfully past David James.
Ferguson said: "Obviously, it is an incredible statsistic. Twenty years at any football club is amazing. It seems to have flown in and I don't know where the years have gone.
"But the only thing you can do is look forward as we always do here and hopefully there are a few good years ahead."
