Manchester United 6-0 Newcastle United
Saturday 12th January 2008
Old Trafford, Manchester
Cristiano Ronaldo's first hat-trick for Manchester United sent them to the Premier League summit as they destroyed managerless Newcastle at Old Trafford.
New England coach Fabio Capello was in attendance as Wayne Rooney drove an early chance over the top as Sir Alex Ferguson's side set the platform for first-half domination. Newcastle keeper Shay Given twice saved well from Rooney as Manchester United threatened to lay siege to the visitors' goal.
Claudio Cacapa then cleared a goal-bound header from John O'Shea before the game had a moment of controversy after 28 minutes. Ronaldo was furious - as was a gesticulating Sir Alex Ferguson - when referee Rob Styles turned down penalty appeals after he tumbled under challenge from Steven Taylor.
Michael Owen had the ball in the net for Newcastle as he raced clear, and even though it was ruled out for offside, replays suggested the strike should have been allowed.
As the interval approached, Given saved superbly low from Ronaldo, and it needed a brave clearance from Stephen Carr to block Ryan Giggs as he closed in on the rebound.
The second period opening in dramatic fashion, with Taylor clearing off the line twice within seconds from Tevez and Rooney. But the Old Trafford side were not to be denied and went ahead after 49 minutes, inevitably through Ronaldo.
Newcastle were unhappy when Smith was punished for a foul on Ronaldo - and even more aggrieved when he struck a 20-yard free-kick underneath a jumping defensive wall, via Given's hand.
And the Red Devils doubled their lead eight minutes later after a defensive calamity from Newcastle. Cacapa played Jose Enrique into trouble in the area, and when he passed to Given, he lashed his clearance against Cacapa. The ball fell for Giggs, who crossed for Tevez to score with ease.
Ronaldo rounded off a four-man move of the highest quality as United added a third after 69 minutes. Michael Carrick started the passage of play, before Tevez and Rooney combined to play Ronaldo in for an emphatic finish.
The home team were threatening every time they went forward, Given saving well from substitute Danny Simpson and then from Rooney, who was having a personal battle with the Newcastle keeper.
It was embarrassingly one-sided, and Jose Enrique cleared off the line from Carrick, while many players in red appealed for a penalty as Carr clashed with Ferdinand.
Ferdinand stole in at the far post five minutes from time to hammer home Rooney's delicate cross, before Ronaldo claimed his first Premier League treble with a deflected finish.
There was even more agony for Newcastle in injury-time when Tevez added a sixth. Newcastle questioned whether the ball had crossed the line after the Argentine's shot came down off the bar. Replays showed it was a goal, and former Old Trafford star Smith contested the decision so fiercely he was sent off.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Simpson 67), Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher 72), Giggs (Nani 72), Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Park.
Booked: Rooney.
Goals: Ronaldo 49, Tevez 55, Ronaldo 70, Ferdinand 85, Ronaldo 88, Tevez 90.
