Source: Daily_Mail
Man United 1 Everton 0: Pen pal Ronaldo makes the difference
World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo produced the most compelling evidence yet he is approaching his best form just in time for Manchester United[LNB]as they enter the business end of the season.[LNB]While Edwin van der Sar was breaking an all-time record at one end - it is now 18 hours and 42 minutes since he last conceded a league goal - the truly worrying news for challengers Liverpool [LNB]and Chelsea[LNB]is that Ronaldo is beginning to look more like the player who swept all before him last season with 42 goals and earned him a clutch of awards.[LNB]He capped his best individual performance of the season with the decisive strike from the penalty spot a minute before the interval, for his 14th goal of a stop-start campaign as United extended their lead to five points.[LNB][LNB] Pen pal: Cristiano Ronaldo scores from the penalty spot [LNB] EVERTON NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Stoke 1 Man City 0[LNB]Arsenal 0 West Ham 0[LNB]Bolton 3 Tottenham 2[LNB]Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1[LNB]Hull 2 West Brom 2[LNB]MAN UNITED NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Middlesbrough 0 Blackburn 0[LNB]Man United v Everton: How the game unfolded[LNB] 'It was a pressure kick with half-time so close. Cristiano needed to show calm in that situation and he did it very well,' said boss Sir Alex Ferguson. 'We couldn't score the second to kill Everton[LNB]off, but they didn't really create a chance and we had a second penalty claim that was clearer than the first.'[LNB]Ronaldo was all smiles, and it has not always been possible to say that this season.[LNB]'I'm happy with the way things are at the moment,' he insisted. 'We are top and I've scored some important goals. If you win games 1-0, it's good enough.'[LNB]There was praise, too, for 38-yearold Van der Sar, whose 12th Premier League clean sheet in a row also set an English league record, eclipsing the 1,103 minutes without a goal conceded set by Reading's Steve Death in 1979.[LNB][LNB] Safe hands: Edwin van der Sar broke the English Football League record for not conceding a goal[LNB]'It's an unbelievable record. I'm so pleased for Edwin. He works hard for his age,' quipped Ronaldo. For a while, it seemed as if Van der Sar's Old Trafford predecessor, Tim Howard - an FA Cup winner with United in 2004 - was going to turn in a performance to break his former club's hearts, ably assisted by two lion-hearted centre-halves in Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka.[LNB]But once Leighton Baines made the mistake of leaving his studs down the back of Ronaldo's legs midway through the first half, it was game over. Earlier in the season, the foul would have provoked a sulky pout from Ronaldo. Yesterday, he sought revenge by putting Everton to the sword and was motivated to show his full repertoire of penetrating runs, silky touches and impressive shooting. His penalty means United can now watch their closest rivals battle it out at Anfield today in relatively relaxed mood.[LNB]'We've done our job - now we can sit back and enjoy watching them,' said Michael Carrick after another peerless performance. 'We're happy with 1-0. It's another clean sheet and there is more to come.'[LNB][LNB] Closely watched: Carlos Tevez is pursued by Leighton Baines [LNB]Howard made excellent saves from Ji-sung Park and Carlos Tevez before Ronaldo suddenly burst into life. The winger tried an improvised shovel-shot that had Howard backpedalling furiously to tip the ball over for a corner, and he ended a gliding run with another effort that hit a post, with Howard smothering the rebound shot from Tevez. He also delivered a sumptuous chipped pass that Carrick controlled on his thigh before hitting the side-netting.[LNB]The all-important contribution from Ronaldo was simplicity itself. Carrick nutmegged Mikel Arteta and the Spaniard then turned and clipped the United midfielder's heels. Referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot and there was no ceremony from Ronaldo as he tricked Howard into diving to his right, and thumped the ball down the middle.[LNB]It was Ronaldo's fourth goal in as many games and his 11th in the Premier League this season - second only to Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka. Considering he missed the start of the season through injury and has been accused of letting his failed summer move to Real Madrid affect him, it is a remarkable record.[LNB] No way through: Leighton Baines tackles Ji-Sung Park [LNB]The only disappointment for United was that they did not add more goals against an Everton side who did not even have a proper striker until the final quarter when Victor Anichebe was sent on. They should have had a second penalty when Lescott took out Carrick and Howard had to make a couple more saves to deny the energetic Tevez. But you sensed United's main aim was protecting Van der Sar's historic moment.[LNB]Ferguson said: 'It's a fantastic record and you have to give Edwin a lot of the credit. He's had different defenders in front of him in different games, and that's where his experience and calm manner is such an asset.[LNB]'We didn't get that second goal and that encouraged Everton. They have a young side and showed lots of energy to keep going. But they didn't create a chance.'[LNB][LNB] My ball: Tim Howard jumps highest to punch clear[LNB]Everton manager David Moyes, who now prepares for an FA Cup replay with city rivals Liverpool on Wednesday, would have heard both sets of fans gleefully chanting 'Rafa's cracking up' during the game yesterday.[LNB]The forthcoming tie means so much on Merseyside but Moyes scored the early psychological points with his side's resilient display against the champions.[LNB]He said: 'I was worried about my players being tired today but now we have the advantage of extra rest, with Liverpool playing on Sunday.' [LNB] EVERTON NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Stoke 1 Man City 0[LNB]Arsenal 0 West Ham 0[LNB]Bolton 3 Tottenham 2[LNB]Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1[LNB]Hull 2 West Brom 2[LNB]MAN UNITED NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Middlesbrough 0 Blackburn 0[LNB]Man United v Everton: How the game unfolded[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
