Ronaldo fires United 6 points clear Sunday, December 31, 2006
Cristiano Ronaldo's hot streak continued on Saturday with two more goals in Manchester United's 3-2 victory over Reading at Old Trafford which put them six points clear in the Premier League.
The tricky Portuguese flyer has now scored 12 league goals this season, six of them coming in the last three games, and he is just just one behind Chelsea's Didier Drogba whose 13th league goal of the season came in a costly 2-2 home draw with Fulham.
Arsenal slipped out of the top four, losing 1-0 in the mud at Sheffield United where the hosts played the last 30 minutes with midfielder Phil Jagielka in goal.
United have 53 points from 21 games, Chelsea have 47 and Bolton Wanderers (39) are now third after a 3-2 home victory over Portsmouth. Liverpool are two points further adrift in fourth after winning 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.
Reading, who drew 2-2 with Chelsea on Tuesday, had not played at Old Trafford for 50 years but pushed the leaders all the way. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave United the lead but Ibrahima Sonko headed Reading level before halftime.
The second half belonged to Ronaldo who restored United's lead after Solskjaer hit the post before volleying his second. Leroy Lita pulled a goal back late on.
"It's been a very good day for us but we had to work very hard," United boss Alex Ferguson, who will be 65 on Sunday, told Sky Sports. "It was our worst defending of the season, I don't understand that.
"The rain was never ending and Reading made us play all the way to the end. In the second half it made a difference with Ryan Giggs coming on."
