Ronaldo’s back in business Friday, September 26, 2008
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first goal of the season and a 3-1 victory for Man United was marred by a sickening foul from Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz that left Brazilian youngster Rodrigo Possebon with a suspected broken leg.
Ronaldo’s start in English football’s League Cup third-round tie was his first since the European Champions League final — following a post-Euro 2008 ankle surgery.
But Ferguson’s satisfaction at his second win in the opening seven fixtures was tempered by the 65th-minute injury to Possebon, in his United debut. This saw Pogatetz sent off and the United manager engaged in a furious row with Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough’s manager.
United showed 11 changes from the side which drew at Chelsea on Sunday.
Ferguson had four teenagers — goalkeeper Ben Amos, defender Rafael da Silva, midfielder Possebon and the forward Danny Welbeck — starting a senior game for the first time. Yet all looked comfortable against a strong Middlesbrough side, and it was a question of when, rather than if, United would take the lead. The answer was 24 minutes, the length of time it took Ronaldo to announce his return to goal-scoring form.
Giggs’s corner swung into the Middlesbrough area and Ronaldo, the scorer of 42 goals last season, was inexplicably allowed to connect with an unmarked header from eight yards.
