Cristiano Ronaldo’s wonder goal sends Manchester United into the Champions League semis

It took a Portuguese to break Porto’s home record against English oppositions… Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Wednesday night.

The World Player of the Year was given the challenge by Ferguson to prove his worth following his unremarkable performance in the first leg of this quarterfinal clash and he responded in the most outraging manner.

Manchester United needed to score before they could progress to the next stage of the competition, and it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth minute wonder goal from a ridiculous range that separated the Reds from the Blues and Whites.

The former Sporting Lisbon Star received the ball from club mate and ex-Porto midfielder Anderson and then quickly tried a fierce shot after making one or two touches on the ball. It flew like a rocket, beating Porto’s keeper Helton in the process, and hit the top corner of the net… a real beauty!

Manchester United’s away fans all at once became completely ecstatic and suddenly, their voices were those of a million supporters. Cristiano Ronaldo humbly celebrated his magnificent goal, with his teammates all around him, knowing that only protection would give it some eternal glory.

Still guilty of having given the ball away without trying to get it back in the first leg, Cristiano Ronaldo displayed the performance of a real hero to brush out his costly mistake. The Star winger was all over the pitch, threatening Porto’s defense as well as closing in their attackers in midfield.

Manchester United almost made it 2-0 when Ronaldo fed Berbatov upfront with a clever pass but the Bulgarian striker just wasn’t sharp enough to dribble past his two markers.
Cristiano Ronaldo showed no signs of frustration and anger like five years ago when he was booed and jeered by the home crowd at this same venue. This time Porto’s supporters held themselves and showed some respect to the national team’s captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese number 7 seemed concentrated throughout the game and with the will of protecting his splendid 40 yards cracker. Porto continued to threaten in front with Van der Sar showing signs of nervousness. The 2004 Champions League winners knew that only a draw will see them edge past Manchester United on away goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a chance of his own in the dying minutes of the game. The reigning UEFA Top Scorer was just inches away from sealing his side’s victory with what would have been his second goal of the night and his third of the campaign this season. However, Helton stretched himself wide and got it right, tipping the ball away for a corner.

At this point, Manchester United were only a few minutes away from having their first clean sheet in all competitions since their 2-0 win at home to Inter Milan earlier last month.
United’s back four held on tight, and the midfielders started to play the game of keeping possession.

Then ultimately, the referee blew the final whistle to end all proceedings, meaning that Cristiano Ronaldo had sent the Red Devils triumphing over the Dragons on their own ground and into the Champions League semis to meet Arsenal who beat Villareal 3-0 at the Emirates.

History was made yesterday with Portuguese Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo being the hero of the night. His sixth minute absolute stunner from 40 yards could go down in football’s history books as the goal of the Champions League and as the goal of the year.

Coach Alex Ferguson branded this goal as “unbelievable” and “magnificent” while Manchester United’s official website were logically forced to extend their “Goal of the Season List” early this morning.

You can never take it all out from a man that raised the bar at a very high standard last season with a scintillating performance throughout the year.

This is why Cristiano Ronaldo is the World’s Best Player in a team made of champions…

Watch C. Ronaldo warming up before the Porto game:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuKj2h7csPE[/youtube]

Watch C. Ronaldo scoring the best goal of the year:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQTtcOCHFNQ[/youtube]

Watch C. Ronaldo’s interview after the match

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wEo_-CepoI[/youtube]

Cristiano Ronaldo v FC Porto: A Portuguese against his own people

Tonight is mission impossible for European Champions Manchester United… It’s a kill or be killed and a do or die affair. The Red Devils need to avoid the fate of English teams on the ground of the Dragons, and everyone’s eyes are on one man under no other name but Cristiano Ronaldo to deliver.

Ferguson to Ronaldo: Correct your guilt.
The 67-year-old Scot who is dreaming of clinching two more Champions League trophies before retiring in 2010 is getting more severe over his team’s performance after managing a disappointing 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

Ferguson reprimanded Cristiano Ronaldo a few days ago for his costly mistake against Porto last week which led to Rodriguez’s 4th minute opener; now the manager demands some miracles from the United squad and from the World Player of the Year especially.

“At this stage of the season, with every game so big, you expect your key players to go into overdrive,” Ferguson stated.

“Of course we’ve got the players who can win the game for us. Match-winners who can rise to the big occasion, that’s really important.”

Cristiano Ronaldo will have a point to prove tonight as he faces the prospect of crushing out of Europe’s most prestigious competition – the UEFA Champions League. The reigning UEFA Top scorer found the net only once in Europe this season and he’s yet to torture his opponents with instant killers.

FC Porto and Cristiano Ronaldo, two great enemies
The Estadio do Dragao is such a significant venue for former Sporting Lisbon Star Cristiano Ronaldo!
This is where the Portuguese number 7 was booed off and jeered by the supporters of Sporting Lisbon’s rivals FC Porto in 2004. The pressure on Ronaldo was so intense that he had to be substituted; and his angry gesture as he reacted to the provoking crowd didn’t go unseen by UEFA’s officials who then handed him a one-match ban. Manchester United eventually got booted out of the competition that same night.

Many years have gone by since then, and the grown kid from the Madeira Island is now the captain of the Portuguese national team and the European and World Player of the Year.

The talismanic number 7 and his English club stand at the wrong side of a 2-2 first leg draw, so tonight’s game promises to be nothing less than a fierce battle.

After suffering a humiliating night at the Estadio do Dragao as a 19-year-old and after cheaply giving the ball away eight days ago (which was the source of Rodriguez’s opener), the pressure is on Cristiano Ronaldo to perform as a true World’s Best Player and ultimately help his teammates to overcome the Dragons on their own territory.

The bells of woes are ringing for the Red Devils to deliver…

Thierry Henri confession: Ronaldo is better than Messi

The long-running if not boring Ronaldo v Messidebate has filled forums with a lot of argument and created so much war between the two groups of supporters.

Barcelona’s Argentine Star Lionel Messi definitely looks determine to steal his rival’s pride and titles this season.The number 10 is very much on course to clinching the UEFA Top scorer of the year award which Ronaldo won last year as much as he is on course to help his club achieve a treble this season.

However, teammate Thierry Henri astonishingly revealed his respect for the “arrogant” Cristiano Ronaldo, placing him above his own friend and colleague Lionel Messi.

In an interview with Record, the former English Premiership player explained his opinion:

“First of all, you have to take into account that Leo [Messi] and Cristiano Ronaldo are different players,”

“For sure they can play on any position from the midfield up, they both have extraordinary technique, but they are different,” Henry stated.

“And, if Messi is scoring more goals nowadays, Ronaldo is a player that has scored more and topped the scoring charts last season.

“Then, the greatness of a player is measured by the titles he has helped his team conquer. Therefore, I have to recognise that Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Leo Messi.”

The French striker continued:

“When Messi is playing well, he can do things that no-one else can.

“I honestly understand why there are those who compare him to Maradona but I repeat: at least right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best. In the future… we will see.”

Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still in the Champions League but the fate of their respective team is completely different. While Barcelona have analytically sealed their place in the semi-finals with a 4-0 first leg victory over Bayern Munich, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United have some job to do when they meet FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao tomorrow.

The Red Devils will be the 13th English side to play the Portuguese Champions in Porto and Cristiano Ronaldo is confident that the team will break the record by being the first English club to defeat the Dragaos in their own backyard at last.

Speaking to Fox Sports, the World Player of the Year boldly declared:

“We will win because Manchester United are the better team. I feel good and I’m ready,”

“I think we have a better team than Porto but we have to respect them. I want to finish the season by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League. My team-mates are thinking like me.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s daring dream of winning the quadruple remains a possibility… at least for now.

The reality of it could help Cristiano Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi once again to retain his individual trophies.

Cristiano Ronaldo forever!!!