Premier League - Ronaldo shines as United thump Stoke
Two Cristiano Ronaldo free-kicks set Manchester United on the way to a 5-0 Premier League win at home to Stoke City.
The winger rifled the ball home from long range three minutes in, and set up Michael Carrick for the second just before half-time.
Dimitar Berbatov volleyed home from close range before Danny Welbeck netted a stunning 30-yarder on his top-flight debut.
Ronaldo then ended the game as he began it, scoring another free-kick, this time a low, curling effort from the edge of the box.
United leapfrogged Arsenal to go third in the table following the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa.
Sir Alex Ferguson went into the game without three of his main men.
Wayne Rooney, battling a chest infection, the injured Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville did not feature in the squad, meaning starts for Jonny Evans and John O'Shea at the back, and Carlos Tevez up front.
Fears that United might be caught out were eased after just three minutes, when Ronaldo scored his first free-kick of the season from more than 30 yards.
When Amdy Faye fouled Tevez on the left side, it appeared to be out of even Ronaldo's range, but he struck a fizzing, dipping drive that deceived Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
However powerful the shot, the Dane will be very disappointed not to have got a touch on the ball as it slammed into the middle of the net.
Then came Stoke's best, in fact their only, chance of the first half, courtesy - of course - of a Rory Delap long throw.
The Irishman's throw from the left flicked off John O'Shea's head and Edwin van der Sar clawed it away with a brilliant, instinctive save.
The Dutchman was subsequently less secure, coming on a risky sortie out of his box, then missing his punch entirely from an Andy Griffin free-kick.
But, with United enjoying over two-thirds possession, the scares were few and far between.
Ronaldo buzzed with endeavour, focussing his intentions on the left wing, while Tevez appeared determined to capitalise on his opportunity, providing the industry and invention normally supplied by Rooney.
Park Ji-Sung went close twice more in the first half, bringing a particularly good save from Sorensen when he was played through one-on-one and the Dane made a superb block at the edge of the box.
Carrick made it two in first-half stoppage time. Stoke backed off Ronaldo as he ran down the left, expecting another shot.
But the Portuguese played a simple ball inside to his midfield colleague, who took a touch and smashed his left-foot shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
If Stoke harboured any hopes of staging a remarkable comeback, they were quickly extinguished four minutes into the second half.
Tevez found Berbatov with a deft low cross from the left, the Bulgarian took an touch and volleyed past Sorensen from close range.
Tevez was clearly desperate for a goal of his own but his finishing was uncharacteristically poor. He failed to locate the far corner with a right-foot chance and shot wide on several other occasions.
Ferguson took a rare opportunity to fringe players Welbeck, Darron Gibson and Manucho.
Welbeck made it a dream debut, crashing a long-range shot into the top-right corner with six minutes remaining.
There was still time for Ronaldo to give the rout a neat symmetry, sidefooting his second into the bottom-right corner.