Underrated Ronaldo's display in United's shirt: He destroyed Millwall but didn't even get MotM award
2004, Man United take on Millwall of Football League First Division (now known as the Championship) in the FA Cup final. Then 19-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo is about to work his magic.
'9 Makes a beeline for the goal line and it looks like he's been accompanied off the pitch limits – only to make a sharp turn and cross the ball with a rabona.
Not a bad cross but Scholsey miscued his shot.
'18 Here's Ronaldo about to cause carnage. Flicks the ball to escape one opponent, then, on the run, flicks it left and follows it up with a roulette leaving Tim Cahill be like 'wtf'. And then a logical conclusion is he gets taken down to earn a free-kick that'll go close to the post.
'41 Picks up the ball off Ruud's header, eliminates the opponent and shoots on target
But a wild Milwall player emerges to clear it off the line
'43 But one minute later, CR7 gets his goal as he heads it home from a superb cross by Gary Neville
The boss be like
'51 Our boy just can't stop tearing it up to create space for crosses or moving forward
'58 Taste the floor
United cruised to a 3-0 win as Ruud van Nistelrooy got on the scoresheet twice, once with a tap-in following Giggsy's zigzagging run into the box and once more with an accurate penalty attempt.
This allowed the Dutchman to win the Man of the Match award as former England boss Sven-Göran Eriksson chose the winner.
This actually caused a mini outcry in the press and among the fans as Ronaldo was clearly the man of the occasion. Apart from his sheer skills – which got Millwall's player-manager Dennis Wise so triggered – he was constantly providing space for United by switching position.
Nominally a right winger, he was seen drifting to the left side where Ryan Giggs was installed. He didn't hesitate to attack down the middle, as well.
What a spectacular performance from one of the sharpest, neatest, best players of the generation!
Comments
I was just lucky enough to watch this game