The Match That Made Real Madrid Buy Cristiano Ronaldo

...occasion stopped them clinching the league title in a match at Upton Park a few years ago. So they are, if you believe in the phrase, Ethan, a bit of a jinxed team to Manchester United. Yeah, I certainly feel with a group of players who've been around for a while and they do get one or two big wins where they're not supposed to, if you like, and then they always believe that they'll do it again. So certainly the West Ham players, a fantastic win at Upton Park, midweek game, great atmosphere as it always is, and Ronaldo penalty that was missed was very costly Mike Reilly, the referee. Manchester United in their usual red shirts, West Ham in their change strip of white shirts and claret shorts. Manchester United's fate still in their own hands. A big day today for the two forwards, Zamora and Dean Ashton. I think if they play well, then West Ham will play well because they get that service forward to them early on. The United centre-half will have a tough day. And here goes Cristiano Ronaldo in familiar style he scored only three minutes gone his 39th goal of a quite incredible season the slip by McCartney let him in and if he gets a sighting of goal he usually scores well just a perfect start they wanted Man United he's got his well McCartney slips but then they've still got enough time to get bodies behind the ball they don't and Hayden Mullins well he gets to Ronaldo but he makes no attempt at all to make a challenge inside the box you've got to try and do something they're backpedalling backing off Robert Green's got no chance takes a deflection Telfer's pleased on the near post here and Van der Sar in trouble it took Evra's intervention to keep that out gotta keep it at full stretch I'm very grateful that his defender was behind well good clearance you'd expect somebody to be there anyway far post he's in possession again this time all early for Ronaldo Tevez with him but he has to get in front of Dean Ashton at almost every opportunity and Ronaldo has got him behind Pancil here lots of support for him he goes down and looks appealingly at the referee he gives nothing not to United anyway yeah he couldn't make his mind up Ronaldo in the end well I think a slight contact he goes down a little bit in on by Ashton for Zamora no that was a foul I think he's saying it was a handball but I think he was pushed into it I think there was a nudge yeah he's just behind Wes Brown had a nervous look at Mike Reilly there such a neat and tidy player in the middle of the field rarely gives the ball away there's Carlos Tevez Ronaldo up with him inevitably and waiting on the far post it was an awkward moment for West Ham here's Boa Morte good play such good movement from United in the middle of the park well started by Paul Scholtz Ashton, Ronaldo sets forth again in search of another goal good tackle and it had to be by Scott Parker that's good play all around good link good play between Tevez and Ronaldo just what it's before their final game away to Wigan Ronaldo the tricky hit away that's dangerous oh would you believe it Ronaldo found the ball drifting straight onto his thigh he looked to see if the offside flag went up it didn't he scored again no it certainly wasn't offside good play from Arnaud Grieves wasn't able to cross it behind the defense to begin with he cuts back onto his left foot and Ronaldo just drifts into that far post but I don't know if they well I don't think they know he's behind there they should do Pouncell is the last man Tomkins actually dug out the way maybe couldn't have got onto it anyway it's a great finish from Ronaldo just flicks it with his right thigh and from that distance Robert Grint unless he's actually standing in that spot he can't save it can't really challenge the two central defenders enough a few more direct balls would have given him a lot more to think about as Tevez hits an absolute screamer it was always going to happen wasn't it he scored here for West Ham last season a crucial life-saving goal for them well they don't know how to feel about seeing that old player scoring a goal of that magnitude what a strike oh what a thunderbolt only one thing on his mind once he comes inside bang straight over Robert Grint he's standing in the right place this time but he's trying to get his hat trick which didn't happen now can Ashton sneak in here oh what a goal have I spoken too soon well that was a brilliant finish by Dean Ashton that is a fantastic goal and full credit to the Man United fans he's been applauded behind that goal what super technique they said they could play more direct style West Ham and Wes Brown is under so much pressure it doesn't get anything on that header really only straight up in the air and he just had muscles Rio Ferdinand there you go strong arms him and van der Sar can't do anything about the tension creeps into United's play Paul Morty has pulled up with an injury well that looked like a foul to me times over the years but he makes plenty being one forward they're claiming offside here and they are right remember West Ham beat Manchester United home and away last season and beat the burner here's Ronaldo just beyond again and something's happened here clash of heads that made the referee instantly whistle and stop play no I think as they were both getting up Allen there was a little head to head verbally first I think between Lucas Neal and Nani it's an off the ball incident whereas a headbutt from Nani into the chest well on a second one into the which I'm sure it will be that's deemed to be violent conduct that is normally a three-match ban you can make all kinds of appeals of course but if it is a three-match ban then he's going to miss out on Moscow and now Sir Alex is uh expressing his anger to Mike Dean the fourth official but what a remarkable first half we've seen here at Old Trafford two goals by Cristiano Ronaldo one absolute screamer by Carlos Tevez against his old club to make it 3-0 they seem to be drifting to three points at that stage Dean Ashton with a spectacular goal for West Ham and then Mike Reilly sending he'll get it underway knowing 1-6 drawn three on the road quite a few of them involved today Hansel impressive and the cross wasn't bad either never just bounced right for him Scott Parker United are sitting in a lot of games this season played very well in most of them here's Ronaldo has played very well I think in all of them take the pressure on Pancito here and effectively so Ronaldo was still running he doesn't shoot too often he ought to shoot more often Michael Carrick with the aid of a deflection has restored Manchester United's three goal lead well a huge slice of luck for Michael Carrick and Man United he was almost reluctant to move into the gap wanting to pass the ball really in the crowd sort of urged him on but he got five yards outside the box he pulls the trigger big deflection off Lucas Veal and Robert he is complaining but I don't think he's got a cause to complain there's a foul there from Solo once twice misses him just frustration there such a big whack at Jon Pantel coming to an end and the match is coming to an end one of the stars of the show Cristiano Ronaldo no surprise there got a yellow card don't want this guy to get injured more importantly at this stage of the season two massive games coming up for them two massive goals yeah a big slice of luck with a split Lucas Veal on the far side deflection sends it as long as they're training okay and the day's leading up now a chance here oh he had his big moment Bobby Zamora and he blew it in fact it was my gun anyway to save his embarrassment it was handball was it good spot I didn't see it he's been yellow carded as well I don't think it was deliberate looking to take it on his chest he's just reaching a bit too much that's off yeah that's harsh very finish was almost perfect from Fletcher just against the foot of the post so precise perhaps if he just scuffed it it would have gone in well lucky great run from Ryan Giggs who's a good spot as well from Everett lovely ball into space he was just slightly behind him the pass plenty of pace on it from Ryan Giggs he came off his heel a little bit so that went back across so we'll be telling Eric to shoot again here instead he tried to very deliberately lay it into the path of Giggs well could have and maybe should have shot turn back the clock Brian Giggs that's a lovely ball as well into the path of Hargreeves with defending by McCartney just not able to take it in this ride on Hargreeves there's a big smile knows it was a great opportunity here's Tevez looking to improve that goal difference further he's been a real workhorse today Carlos Tevez the final whistle at the final home game of the season at Old Trafford and the man of the moment the man of the season Cristiano Ronaldo has helped Sir Alex Ferguson to another three points Carlos Tevez scoring against the side that he helped to stave off relegation on this very ground last season Michael Carrick with a deflected shot getting a four three points for Manchester United four goals for Manchester United the title now within reach Chelsea have to go to Newcastle on Monday and now