Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his return to action
as United cruised to a 4-1 win over Nationwide Conference side
Oxford United at Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The predicted rough ride for the Portuguese winger, in the wake of
his unedifying episode with Wayne Rooney in the World Cup, was
quick to materialise as the locals joined in a chorus of jeers as
he got his first touch of the ball.
Ronaldo appeared totally unfazed by the derision aimed in his
direction, although he can expect the vitriol to increase in volume
when the serious stuff begins in twelve days' time.
Three other World Cup stars, Mikael Silvestre, Louis Saha (both
France) and Gabriel Heinze (Argentina) were also in the side to
acquire match fitness ahead of the new season.
This match was originally billed as a reserve team friendly and
then appeared to have been added to the first teams already
lengthy list of pre-season appointments. Ultimately, it could
probably be best filed under United XI, taking into account the
make-up of the which finally trotted out to take on Jim Smiths
lads.
The Kassam Stadium was almost full to its 12,000 capacity as the
game kicked-off on a pleasant evening in Oxford. The local fans
were in good voice and equally good heart ahead of the start of the
Conference season at the weekend. They dropped down from League Two
at the end of last season.
There was a measured expectancy from the Oxford supporters as the
game sparked into life, but it was soon stifled as United exploded
into early scoring action.
Seven minutes gone and United were 1-0 up thanks to Ole Gunnar
Solskjaers fifth goal of the pre-season campaign. Heinze crossed
the ball from the left and chested it down to Solskjaer who,
without hesitation, thumped it high into the net. It was a terrific
goal for Ollie and a good moment for Ronaldo, but better was just
around the corner.
Seven minutes after scoring the first goal, United went further
ahead. This time Phil Bardsley sent over a cross from the right,
Saha stopped it dead and Ronaldo lashed it past Oxford keeper Bill
Turley with the minimum of effort.
The boo-boys were silenced, at least temporarily, as United took
total control of the game. Barely two minutes later and United
threatened to turn this pre-season game into a rout after Darren
Fletcher had flashed the third goal past Turley.
The locals continued to barrack Ronaldo each time he got the ball,
but that was pretty well the only time they were roused until the
27th minute when Rob Duffy reduced the arrears with a crisply
headed goal past Ben Foster.
To their credit, Oxford fought back courageously during the latter
stages of the first half and with a ounce of luck they could have
claimed at least one further goal. Both Duffy and Eddie Hutchinson
went close as the half neared its close.
Sir Alex Ferguson said before the game that all four of his
returning World Cup stars would complete the 90 minutes and sure
enough they all emerged from the tunnel ahead of the second half.
That wasnt true, however, of John OShea, who was withdrawn at the
break and replaced by new kid on the block Jonny Evans.
Andrew Burgess shone for Oxford in the first half and he continued
to catch the eye with a classy brand of wing play down the right.
He tested Foster more than once as the home side looked to build on
the improvement shown in the latter stages of the first 45.
United made an unexpected change in the 58th minute when Heinze
left the field to be replaced by Danny Simpson. There was no
obvious reason for his departure and he certainly didnt appear to
be troubled in any way.
Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the night with a clinical finish
after David Jones had split the Oxford defence with some
ultra-intelligent midfield play.
Two-goal Ronaldo came off in the 72nd minute with a smile as broad
as the pitch he was leaving. Jeered by the locals, he was given a
standing ovation by the United fans. And there was a nice gesture
from Jim Smith as Ronaldo reached the touchline, the Oxford boss
stepping forward to shake the hand of the Reds star.
Oxford United: Turley (Tardif 46); Anaclet, Day, Quinn, Gilchrist
(Willmot 46), Johnson (Lamine 7
; Dempster, Hutchinson,
Pattefer (Hargreaves 61); Duffy (Basham 61), Burgess (Odubade
7.
Manchester United: Foster (Heaton 72); Bardsley, OShea (Evans J.
46), Silvestre, Heinze (Simpson 5; Ronaldo (Rossi72),
Fletcher, Jones D., Richardson (Martin 5; Solskjaer
(Miller 72), Saha.
Footnote: Sir Alex Ferguson's first ever match in charge of
Manchester United was away to Oxford at the old Manor Ground on
Saturday 8 November 1986. He'd probably prefer to forget the result
of the encounter Oxford won 2-0. The United team included
long-serving left-back Arthur Albiston, who was summarising Tuesday
nights game for MUTV.
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