United extend lead with comfortable win against Bolton
Ronaldo struck another unstoppable free-kick
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Wednesday, 19, Mar 2008 10:37
Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to three points thanks to a 2-0 win over Bolton at Old Trafford.
Stand-in captain Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals to take his personal tally for the season to 33 goals in all competitions – surpassing the mark set by winger George Best in 1968.
United started the game in great form and claimed both of their goals inside the first 20 minutes. They could have added to that lead but were on cruise-control after the second goal as the Trotters showed few signs of getting back into the match.
Bolton's best chance came when El-Hadji Diouf thought he had struck a free-kick past Tomasz Kuszczak only for the referee to disallow it.
Alex Ferguson made seven changes to the side that beat Derby on Saturday, leaving Wayne Rooney on the bench while Rio Ferdinand was rested.
Despite the changes United dominated from the kick-off and were soon ahead thanks to Ronaldo. The winger latched onto an attempted clearance on the edge of the area and fired the ball into the roof of the net.
His second came after Bolton defender Abdoulaye Meite fouled him while he tormented him with his skills. Ronaldo took the subsequent free-kick himself and fired home from 25 yards out.
Using a similar technique to the wonder-strike that beat Portsmouth's David James earlier in the season, Ronaldo's drive was once again unstoppable.
After that Kevin Davies briefly threatened for the visitors but his volley was well within the grasp of Kuszczak.
Nani and Carlos Tevez both went close before the break as United pushed for a third goal and Bolton were relieved to only be 2-0 at the break.
It could have been 2-1 midway through the second half but Diouf's free-kick which had nestled in the top corner of Kuszczack's goal was disallowed as the referee had not blown his whistle for the kick to be taken.
United had done enough by then to be comfortable with their lead and cruised to their 22nd league win of the season, putting them three points clear of Arsenal with eight games remaining.
Meanwhile Bolton remain in the bottom three, two points adrift of Sunderland who occupy 17th place.