Ronaldo stunner gives United points Sunday March 20, 2005
Ronaldo challenges for the ball
Manchester United stayed second in the Barclays Premiership after a dazzling winner from Cristiano Ronaldo in a 1-0 victory against Fulham.
Paul Scholes had already wasted a chance by heading wide early on, but Ronaldo scored a magnificent winner after 21 minutes to give United the win.
The Portugal winger cut inside from the left flank and unleashed an unstoppable drive that found the top corner, giving Cottagers keeper Edwin van der Sar no chance.
United striker Wayne Rooney had chances to add to the lead but it remained 1-0, although the visitors had a few chances on the counter-attack.
At the bottom, West Brom grabbed a second successive victory as they trounced 10-man Charlton 4-1 at The Valley.
Rio congratulating Ronaldo's goal
Geoff Horsfield scored the opener with a thumping header after nine minutes but Jonatan Johansson restored parity after muscling past Baggies keeper Russell Hoult.
Talal El Karkouri was sent off for a rash tackle on Zoltan Gera after 29 minutes - and the visitors eventually took advantage when they brought on Robert Earnshaw.
The Wales striker scored his first after 73 minutes when Horsfield found him with a header. Earnshaw then broke the offside trap after Gera sent him through for the third, and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Stuart Pearce's first game as Manchester City caretaker boss ended in a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane while Newcastle's run of eight successive wins came to end after they were held 1-1 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park and Stelios Giannakopoulos' superb strike enabled Bolton to leapfrog Liverpool and move to fifth with a 1-0 win against Norwich.
