Ronaldo back in the goals after controversial penalty
Saturday, 27 Sep 2008 21:05
Cristiano Ronaldo started his first league match while Wayne Rooney came off the bench to score.
Cristiano Ronaldo marked his first league start with a goal as Manchester United beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at Old Trafford.
United broke the deadlock on the hour mark when referee Rob Styles controversially penalised J'Lloyd Samuel for a tackle on Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger slotted home the spot-kick for his second goal of the season.
Wayne Rooney sealed victory on 77 minutes with a sensational goal after firing into the corner from Ronaldo's backheel.
Elsewhere, Chelsea remain unbeaten after a 2-0 victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The Blues took the lead on 36 minutes when Jose Bosingwa ran onto Frank Lampard to hammer the ball in, despite Stoke appealing the full-back had controlled the ball with his arm.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's men clinched victory 14 minutes from time when the Potters failed to clear Bosingwa's cross, allowing Nicolas Anelka to fire the ball past Tomas Sorensen.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 at Villa Park.
Djibril Cisse's first-time effort on ten minutes had given the Black Cats a shock lead but Ashley Young restored parity eight minutes later with a free-kick from 22 yards.
Twelve minutes before half-time, Martin O'Neill's men scored the winner when John Carew flicked the ball between his legs from Stiliyan Petrov's pass.
Elsewhere, West Ham United put a horrendous week behind them with a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Gianfranco Zola's men went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Mark Schwarzer could only parry Matthew Etherington's cross into the path of Carlton Cole who tapped in.
Two minutes later, another blunder from Schwarzer saw the Hammers go 2-0 up when Etherington poked the ball into the net after the keeper had needlessly come rushing off his line.
Fulham's cause was not helped when Andy Johnson was sent off in the fifth minute of stoppage time after picking up a second booking for a reckless tackle on Lucas Neill.
The Cottagers benefited from a dubious penalty, when Neill was adjudged to have handled, which was converted by Danny Murphy on 59 minutes but it was not enough and the east London side celebrate two league wins in a row since Zola took charge.
Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Hawthorns thanks to Jonas Olsson's second-half goal.