Ronaldo's instant hits make all the difference for United
There have been more demanding occasions in 2006 than this one, against a Wigan team with a famed inability to gain results against the Premiership's elite but, on a day when Chelsea slipped up unexpectedly, this felt like it could prove to be a significant afternoon come May.
By then, Ronaldo might well have been crowned Player of the Year, with Didier Drogba, another whose worst excesses have occasionally outraged his fellow professionals since his arrival in England, his only real rival on recent evidence.
The Independent
Ronaldo gives United a reason to Relax
The injured Arjen de Zeeuw was missing and Josip Skoko and Denny Landzaat on the bench. With the match goalless at half-time, Wigan must have felt they had a chance of a point. Within 15 minutes of the restart they were three down and on their way to their fourth consecutive defeat that leaves them 14th with one win in eight games. Ronaldo nodded home the first direct from a Paul Scholes corner on 47 minutes.
Then he took the penalty after Gary Teale's blatant trip on Park Ji-Sung and, although Chris Kirkland guessed right to save it, the rebound dropped for Ronaldo to finish.
The Sun
Man Utd 3 Wigan 1
A 3-1 hammering at the JJB back in October while yesterday's identical score heaped more misery on Paul Jewell's suffering side.
They have won only one in their last nine league games and lost six of those. The Latics have now rejoined those looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone.
Their injury-time penalty from Leighton Baines was scant consolation after David Wright was fouled by Mikael Silvestre.
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