Magic of Ronaldo Makes Sporting Weep As Lacklustre United Stage Revival

It is rare to see Manchester United play so poorly at Old Trafford and win but, then again, with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo in their team there is always the possibility that they can triumph even on a bad night. Two minutes of stoppage time had elapsed last night when Ronaldo arrowed an exquisite free-kick into the corner to give his side a victory that was scarcely deserved considering their shortcomings in the first half.

United had been so poor in that period they were fortunate the damage was restricted solely to one goal. The second half, however, brought a vast improvement, culminating in the substitute Carlos Tevez equalizing and, with the supporters heading away in droves, the goal from Ronaldo. In doing so, Ronaldo ensured United head to Roma for their final game knowing they have won Group F.

As well as avoiding the other group winners, it will guarantee the return leg is played at Old Trafford, a definite advantage given that, before last night, Ferguson's men had lost only one of the last 32 Champions League fixtures on their own ground.

Old Trafford has such mystique it is usually only the most intrepid travelers who visit Manchester believing they have serious aspirations of winning and, by the time the knockout phase starts, it is certainly safe to assume United will not look as lacklustre as they did for long spells last night. Even for a manager of Ferguson's skills, it must be difficult to motivate a side when they know they have already qualified and there was a distinct lack of cohesion and fluency to United's play when the game began. Passes were misplaced, 50-50s were lost and, all in all, there was a general air of indifference running through the team. It was strange to witness and, for a near-capacity crowd, disconcerting, too.

This might not have mattered too much if it had been quickly remedied. Instead, United seemed content to play the game at three-quarter pace and Sporting, willing yet limited opponents, duly gained confidence, started to knock the ball around and, after realizing that their opponents did not really seem up for it, they took the lead, deservedly, in the 21st minute.

The damage may have been even worse for United if, five minutes later, a trigger-happy linesman had not ruled out another effort by the Brazilian striker Liedson but, even as it was, there was plenty to prick Ferguson's temper as he contemplated how his stand-in goalkeeper, Tomasz Kuszczak, could allow Abel, stuck out by the right touchline, to beat him from such an improbable angle.

Kuszczak was badly positioned. Admittedly, he was not the only person inside Old Trafford who expected a cross rather than a shot but the Pole loses sympathy because of the regularity with which he ends up face down in the mud when he stands in for Edwin van der Sar.

The most disappointing aspect for Ferguson was the lack of leadership, with nobody seemingly willing, or capable, of taking the game by the lapels of its shirt. But this is what can happen when the likes of Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea are brought into the team.

In their own way, they are accomplished players, but not the type to shape games and, with Cristiano Ronaldo possibly trying too hard against his former club, it was no surprise that Ferguson made changes at half-time. Fletcher and Nani were withdrawn for Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez and there was an immediate improvement that should have seen Louis Saha equalise when Ronaldo put him through in the 57th minute.

Saha's profligacy angered the crowd but four minutes later United drew level. This time Patrice Evra surged down the left and Saha stabbed the deflected cross into Ronaldo's path. His shot was not struck cleanly, skewing across the penalty area and going in off a combination of Tevez and, in particular, the left-back Marian Had. The stage was set for Ronaldo and, from 25 yards, he did not disappoint.