United's head boy Ronaldo rocks old pals

Cristiano Ronaldo last night returned as a superstar to the club where he first exhibited his extraordinary gifts, and it was perhaps fitting that it should be his second-half goal that decided this sterile contest.

Ronaldo's celebrations after he dived to head Wes Brown's superlative deep cross into the net in the 62nd minute were respectfully muted.

Bowing to fans of his first club, he clearly wished to acknowledge that he owes them a significant debt.

Sporting supporters appreciated that, but it is United who have most cause to be grateful as his goal helped paper over the cracks of another incoherent display.

United boss Ferguson was certainly appreciative and tipped the 22-year-old to top last season's tally of 23 goals.

"He can do it again," said the manager. "We expect him to improve year on year and there's no reason why he can't better last season."

Speaking of the welcome the winger received, Fergie added: "It's rare in football to see a player receive a reception like he did. It's not just because he's a former player, but also because the fans recognise they had an incredible talent who they helped tremendously in the early stages of his development."

Given the range of attacking players United have at their disposal, the Premier League champions' disjointed football has surprised everybody this season. Not least themselves.

Not since the 4-2 defeat of Everton in April have United scored more than once and that statistic was never threatened in Portugal.

But if another unsatisfactory display produced another satisfactory result — this was United's fourth 1-0 win on the bounce — then the contribution of keeper Edwin van der Sar should not be overlooked.

The 36-year-old produced two wonderful saves either side of Ronaldo's goal to ensure United began their Group F campaign with another clean sheet and his performance earned a salute from his manager.

Ferguson said: "He's been one of my best signings and I just wish I'd signed him earlier than I did. He's a great example to young players."

Van der Sar's first contribution came in the 28th minute as he denied Brazilian centre forward Liedson, whose shot appeared to have just enough pace and bend on it to curl into the top corner, but the Dutchman somehow pushed the ball around a post.

It was a terrific save, but the one Van der Sar produced to deny defender Antonio Tonel with 10 minutes left was even better. Tonel seemed certain to score as he outmuscled Rio Ferdinand but once again Van der Sar's athleticism was impressive as he dived to his right to turn away the header.

Yannick Djalo should have done better than power the rebound embarrassingly wide. If this all makes it sound as though this was a game of incident, then do not be fooled. It was a dull affair.

Boring, in fact.

Before Ronaldo's goal, United created only one chance of note, Ryan Giggs heading a cross from Patrice Evra over the bar bang in front of goal in the opening moments of the second half. And Sporting were not much better.

Paulo Bento's team enjoyed plenty of possession in front of their passionate supporters, especially in the first half.

But all they really had to show for their efforts were a number of long range pot shots that Van der Sar saved comfortably.

Leandro Romagnoli saw an early effort deflected over the bar by Michael Carrick while captain Jao Moutinho fizzed a right-foot effort in to Van der Sar's arms in the sixth minute.

Marat Izmailov was narrowly too high from the edge of the area three minutes later as Sporting endeavoured to make early dominance count before making Van der Sar work — again from distance — in the 23rd minute.

That Sporting found it so difficult to get close to the United goal says much for the visitors' defending. Without the injured Owen Hargreaves to protect them, Fergie was concerned that his defenders might be exposed.

But Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have found some impressive form early on this season and that is enabling United to muddle through at home and in Europe.

Ferguson can only hope his expensively assembled forward line clicks in to gear soon and he will be encouraged that the likes of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are back on parade.

Both players showed a few signs of rustiness after their stop-start opening to the season.

But such is the quality of Ronaldo, in particular, that he can prove the difference between a draw and a win, even when he is not playing well. That is exactly how it turned out.

The highlights reel may only show Ronaldo diving to head Brown's cross past Vladimir Stojkovic from the edge of the six-yard box.

What the TV footage will not show is Ronaldo beating two men in his own half to begin the move and then motoring 50 yards to finish it off.

Four years ago Ronaldo left Lisbon as a gifted teenager with bags of potential.

He returned triumphantly as a superb footballer with few equals.

SPORTING LISBON (4-4-2): Stojkovic 7; Abel 7, Polga 7, Tonel 7, Ronny 8 (Perierinha 74min, 7); Izmailov 7 (Vukcevic 56, 7), Veloso 7, Romagnoli 8 (Purovic 67, 7), Moutinho 7; Djalo 7, Liedson 8. Booked: Romagnoli.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Van der Sar 8; Brown 7, Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, Evra 7; Scholes 6, Carrick 6; Ronaldo 7 (Tevez 86), Giggs 6 (Anderson 77), Nani 6; Rooney 8 (Saha 72, 6). Booked: Nani, Van der Sar. Scorer: Ronaldo 62.

Man of the match: Edwin van der Sar

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Ger).