Ronaldo inspires United win

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After dismantling Tottenham in the FA Cup on Sunday, he showed similar panache against Pompey to take his season's tally to 27.

United made the breakthrough in the 10th minute after an incisive break which dismantled Portsmouth as Nani showed superb vision to pick out Ronaldo and he took full advantage with a cool finish.

It did not take Ronaldo long to add to his tally, either, with David James stranded as a magnificent 25-yard free-kick whistled past his left shoulder in the 13th minute.

Ronaldo then turned provider in the 20th minute when he set up Wayne Rooney but his chip was cleanly taken by James. Rooney should then have made it 3-0 to United but contrived to miskick in front of goal.

United started the second half where they had left off and James did well to push away a header from Rio Ferdinand in the 51st minute following a corner from Nani.

Rooney was wasteful in the 55th minute when he intercepted a sloppy back pass from Sol Campbell - lofting the ball up in the air but did not put enough weight on it and James was able to make the save.

Ronaldo should have completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute but scuffed his effort wide after Rooney had won the ball off Campbell.

Rooney was putting in a hard shift and cut inside, only to send a shot into James' arms.

Nani almost got his reward for a promising display when he rattled the bar eight minutes from time before Carlos Tevez and Anderson both went close as United went back to the top of the table.