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Imperious United destroy Stoke

15/11/2008

Manchester United cut the gap with archrivals Liverpool at the top of the Premier League to eight points with a decisive 5-0 home win over Stoke City.

Cristiano Ronaldo (two), Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck were in the goals for United as they moved up to third in the table with a game in hand on the Reds.

The home side dominated possession against a Stoke side that started the day in 12th place in the league but just two points out of the relegation zone.

United, lacking either Rio Ferdinand or Wayne Rooney in their match-day squad, took the lead within minutes when Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for the club.

The landmark strike arrived via a trademark long-range free-kick, with the obligatory swerve and dip unnerving Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal.

Stoke attacks were a rarity in the first 45 at Old Trafford, with a spooked John O'Shea coming closest to opening the away side's account when he inadvertently diverted a Rory Delap long-throw towards his own goal, but Edwin van der Sar was alert to the danger.

Before the half was up United were two goals to the good as Ronaldo turned provider to set up Michael Carrick.

The midfielder, often overlooked for England, added to the glorious strike he registered against Hull City at the beginning of the month by receiving the Portuguese winger's pass on the edge of the area and shooting past Sorensen despite a crowd of Stoke players around him.

After the restart the dominance of Sir Alex Ferguson's side continued, with Berbatov getting his name on the scoresheet.

With 48 minutes on the clock the Bulgarian took advantage of strike partner Carlos Tevez's pass in the area to spin and shoot for his sixth goal of the season.

Ferguson was able to blood some new talent as the clock ticked down, with Darron Gibson, 21, Danny Welbeck, 17, and Manucho, 25, all making their Old Trafford debuts.

It was a debut to remember for forward Welbeck, who marked his first home appearance for the club with a stunning 25-yard strike that nestled in the top corner.

Not to be outdone however, Ronaldo ensured the headlines would be his with his second goal of the game and 101st of his United career.

The goal arrived courtesy of another long-range free-kick with Sorensen beaten for a fifth time, leaving the goalkeeper and his manager Tony Pulis with an afternoon to forget at Old Trafford.