Boo-Boy Ronaldo Teaches Oxford a Lesson

Easy! Easy! Easy!
By Chris O'Brien
August 15 2006

A strong Manchester United 'XI' secured a 4-1 pre-season victory at Oxford United. 11,463 were in attendance at the Kassam Stadium as goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Darren Fletcher and a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo proved enough to secure an easy win for the Red Devils.

A strong Manchester United XI secured an impressive 4-1 pre-season victory against Oxford United.

The game, like a recent visit to Macclesfield, had been billed as a reserve-team encounter. However, Sir Alex Ferguson took the opportunity to warm-up many of his stars ahead of the new season. Cristiano Ronaldo, Mikael Silvestre, Louis Saha and Gabriel Heinze all started the game following their World Cup exploits, whilst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Kieran Richardson were other household names on show at a near-capacity Kassam Ground.

Ronaldo netted twice as the Red Devils ran out easy winner against the Conference outfit, though the Portuguese winger had to put up with a rough ride from the home supporters as they jeered his every touch following the much-publicised World Cup spat with Wayne Rooney.

United had taken the lead on seven minutes as Solskjaer fired home an impressive cross from Heinze. The visitors then went onto to double their lead on fourteen minutes; Ronaldo turning home a knock-down from Saha to silence the boo-boys.

The Red Devils were thoroughly enjoying themselves as Darren Fletcher slotted home a third just two minutes later.

However, just as it started to look like United would beat their non-league counterparts at a canter, the hosts found a way back into the game to the delight of a bumper home crowd. Rob Duffy did well to beat Ben Foster with a neat header, in what will be the young 'keeper's last United appearance before returning to Watford on loan.

David Jones, United's young Welsh midfielder, once again impressed in midfield and looks an excellent prospect for the future. He showed maturity ahead of his years to split Oxford's defence with a superb through-ball that set-up Ronaldo for a 72nd-minute winner.

This was a pleasing work-out for United, and the game will have proved a tremendous cash-boost to struggling Oxford who lost their league status at the end of last season.

Full Time - Oxford United 1-4 Manchester United 'XI'
Attendance - 11,463

Oxford United: Turley (Tardif 46); Anaclet, Day, Quinn, Gilchrist (Willmot 46), Johnson (Lamine 78); Dempster, Hutchinson, Pattefer (Hargreaves 61); Duffy (Basham 61), Burgess (Odubade 78).

Manchester United: Foster (Heaton 72); Bardsley, O’Shea (Evans J. 46), Silvestre, Heinze (Simpson 58); Ronaldo (Rossi 72), Fletcher, Jones D., Richardson (Martin 58); Solskjaer (Miller 72), Saha.