Ronaldo enjoys winning return

After a largely quiet game, Ronaldo suddenly sprang to life just after the hour mark and arrived with perfect timing to steer home Wes Brown's low cross from six yards.

It was enough to give United only their third away win in 15 attempts in this competition but goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar had equal claim on hero status along with Ronaldo among the visiting faithful, the veteran Dutchman producing two outstanding saves to deny Liedson and Tonel.

At the start of a European campaign which will contain the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash, a tragedy which cost eight fine players their lives and affected the aspirations of not just United but England as well for years afterwards, there has been plenty of talk of providing a fitting on-field tribute to Sir Matt Busby's trail-blazers.

Unfortunately, the opening 45 minutes did not exactly measure up to the task and not even the return of Wayne Rooney for the first time since he fractured a foot in the opening-day Barclays Premier League draw with Reading could spark the Red Devils into life.

The one time when van der Sar was seriously threatened came just before the half hour when Liedson's curling shot was heading for the top corner but the 36-year-old had enough spring to push the well-struck effort wide.

The value of van der Sar's save was fully realised just past the hour when United took the lead as Ronaldo finished off the best move of the match.

Rooney started it, darting to the left wing to pick up possession which Nani felt entitled to. In an instant, the ball was transferred from one side of the pitch to the other, with Ronaldo, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes all involved.

Wes Brown's cross fell right into the danger zone and with Sporting's defenders at full stretch for the first time in the entire game, up popped Ronaldo in acres of space to inflict maximum damage on his old club from six yards.

Van der Sar needed to produce another fine save to turn Tonel's header away late on and Ronaldo and substitute Louis Saha went close near the end but it didn't matter as United eased home.