THERE was no Ronaldinho, no Maldini and the original Ronaldo was missing too.
But the thousands of schoolchildren present on an evening when Manchester United celebrated the 50th anniversary of their own entry into Europe - along with the somewhat more significant Treaty of Rome - and raised £1.25million for charity into the bargain, were still given a thrill to remember for the rest of their lives.
Over the past month, notable Manchester United figures from past and present have queued up to confirm Cristiano Ronaldo's importance to the Red Devils' cause.
And here, freed from the pressures and restrictions of competitive combat, the brilliant 22-year-old showed off the full range of his mesmerising skill.
Showed off is the appropriate phrase too, given Ronaldo played to the gallery at every opportunity.
The dancing feet, never-ending stepovers, strong running, flicked passes. A true performer in every sense of the word.
In the end, Marco Materazzi - the man Zinedine Zidane ended his career by headbutting in last summer's World Cup - lived out his own childhood dream, reverting to the tactics of the playground by hacking Ronaldo down by the touchline.
Grace
The tackle was taken in good grace, and with a half smile, although Ronaldo had plenty to smile about by that stage, having rasped home a free-kick good enough to grace any of the great European nights the Theatre of Dreams has played host to down the years.
Ronaldo's effort, teed up with Jonny Wilkinson-like precision, bent so many ways before rasping into the top corner that Valencia's Santiago Canizares, widely acknowledged as one of the best keepers in Europe, began by moving with it, then just gave up and watched it fly past him like the rest of the awe-struck 74,343 crowd - a record for a friendly game at the stadium.
Even Beckham, sat in the directors' box alongside wife Victoria, devastated at not being able to play a more active part in his 'homecoming' must have appreciated it.
To the type of reception normally associated with the Beatles, Beckham addressed the United fans at half-time, declaring Sir Alex Ferguson to be the 'best manager in the world' and his days at Old Trafford 'the best of my career'.
Time moves on, though. Four years have passed since the former England skipper and lifelong United supporter graced this stadium on club duty.
His contribution to the Red Devils' success will never be forgotten or underestimated but the club has new heroes now in Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Scoresheet
Without a Champions League goal since September 2004, Rooney proved he can cut it against high-ranking opposition, albeit ones who do not tackle, by taking just five minutes to get his name on the scoresheet, a little shimmy taking Canizares out of the game as he tapped Paul Scholes' through ball into an empty net.
A bit of trickery from old master Ryan Giggs provided Wes Brown with a second for United before Lyon's Florent Malouda pulled one back with what would have been the goal of the night had it not been for Ronaldo's stunner.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had missed a penalty by the time Rooney finished off Park Ji-Sung's cross for a United fourth.
The numerous changes for both sides at half-time included the exit of Ronaldo and Rooney and the arrival of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher for Marcello Lippi's makeshift European side.
With El-Hadji Diouf - who pulled a goal back with a close-range header - on as well, the home fans had three players with Liverpool connections to abuse.
However, none received as negative a reaction as Robbie Fowler, one half of probably the most unpopular substitution Old Trafford has ever seen as Henrik Larsson departed for the final time to a hero's welcome.
All that was left was a near-perfect Mexican wave, which was rolling round the ground as China international Dong Fangzhou was given his first taste of the Old Trafford atmosphere, and a late Diouf penalty after Gabriel Heinze had handled.
But as they headed for home, there was only one name on the lips of those kids for whom a real-life glimpse of United is a rare event indeed. For them there really is only one Ronaldo.
What did you think of the game? Have your say.
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I think that this game was schedule wrong. it should have been played last year . i don't want tired players against Blackburn or Boro.
All in all, a star-studded night to remember, featuring some of the greatest talents on the world stage (as well as Alan Smith and John O'Shea). One, two, maybe even three generations of Utd fans witnessing a unique occasion at the Theatre of Dreams. Yes, they can all say they were there the night Cristiano Ronaldo ACTUALLY SCORED WITH A FREE KICK! In the process, improving his conversion rate to an inflation-busting 0.0000001 goals per spectacularly miscued attempt... PS Just how good is Paul Scholes? Greatest English footballer of the past 30 years! He's a little ginger Brazilian!!
I hope all u 'Manchester United' fans enjoyed your trip to old trafford last night. I also hope you found it alright and wern't late for the kick off. Enjoy your next trip to old trafford when the next friendly or testimonial comes round. COME ON CITY
An enjoyable game I must say. especially in the second half when it became more competetive. I think Sith needs to know that he's not a midfielder anymore. He was out of position most of the time and tended to return the ball back whenever he got it from his teammates. I'm sure he will get the hang of it, he has the United spirit...a true fighter. Dong is a plus. I believe SAF has a better option in him for our attacking department than Smith.
Oh dear !! We had a slimy
buzz from from a Envy Bug !!
It was all for charity you fool...God you have got it
bad like the rest of your lot.All this . We are the best supporters rubbish.....
And Pigs Can Fly..That empty
horrible EASTLANDS will never
host a event like that.Arthur
Dawkins...THAILAND....
I did not watch the full game but in what i saw is that we have some world class players like Ronaldo, Scholes and Rooney.However when we have Richardson still a United player makes me wonder if we will ever have again players as talented as Giggs and Scholes coming out of our reserves. I hope i am wrong but i will sit down and wait for the day when Richardson will finally be sold.
Ronaldo scores a brilliant free kick but we need more in the competitive games.After last night performance by Smith, Rooney should be played up front with Giggs behind using Park/Evra on the wing.
unfortunately i only caught the last few minutes of the match. Nice to see cole turning up in the united shirt, nice touch. How did smith and dong do up front. The only thing i seen dong do in the dying minutes was to miss the open goal from a couple of yards out. Any comments? Any positives?
robbo you echoed my thoughts scholes is a truly fabulous player. added bonus was just how clinically rooney took his goals he even had the smile back on his face could it be because he was ALLOWED to play in his favoured position
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha DanMCFC. Is it true that setee are planning a similar commemorative match to mark the 31 years since they won anything? As for commemorating the achievement of 50 years in Europe, don't think setee have even clocked up 50 matches in Europe.
The treaty of Rome more important than UNITED's entry into Europe! You must be joking!
That was a good laugh and probably great fun for the players to play a game with no pressure. Scholes was outstanding given time and space and Rooney and Ronnie had a field day. I thought Dong looked quite promising up to that last second miss and I also thought Eagles played much better than I've ever seen before although he would have a point to prove. Back to the real business at the weekend but that was a nice side show.
By the way DanMCFC - I'd like to ask if you can find your ground but if you're one of the thousands of City fans who have decided not to renew next season or go to tonights match then it won't matter - best fans my a**e.
Great stuff! And FOR ONCE, Old Trafford had an atmosphere to beat our rivals. It was a cauldron of noise, boos, cheers and songs last night - more of the same please on matchdays that MEAN something! If Roo and Ron and Scholes can play like that for the rest of the season, we'll be picking up more than one trophy I think!
I hate to be critical of the team in a meaningless friendly, but in a game where there was no tackles except scholes on gattuso, it showed that smith is still a long way away from performing at the top level, park is still too lightweight and that carrick again does disappear spot the difference of gerrard's half compared to carrick's, movement, always going forward and accurate passing, any chance of a swap?, great free kick from ronaldo and scholes was mom by a mile.
bobbyd, good point
I only saw last 20 mins was it any good? how did rooney look? nice to see him score twice hopefully will help him to move up the gears and really kick on!
Actually edinburgh red, I thought Smith did well for his first start in heaven knows how long. He needs playing time and he's likely to get it started immediately! I think he will get his sharpness back quickly now.
stu the atmosphere was indeed much better last night as there was a lot of kids and teenagers in the ground. something you just dont see anymore groups of young lads who have gone along to the game with their mates. these types of supporters have been squeezed out of the game.not for the better i might add
bobbyd, good point again!
Hi folks
Interesting, if lightweight entertainment at Old Trafford.
Dong's debut ¿ what is the reaction out there? He looked sharpish.
Did anyone notice that Alan Smith, although spritely in link-up play, didn't have a shot or header on target.
When Coley came on, he showed the movement and fluidity that Saha provides.
31 years...we're still here, or so they say at Wastelands. What a joke! Do City fans dress up as vacant plastic blue seats?
I would have thought when a team has been in a competition for 50 years and spent millions of pounds each season trying to win the Trophy only to win it twice,would hide their heads in shame rather indulge in a nonsensical meaningless match against a team that had not even had a training session together!
Good morning. Today's topics are: last night; Abramovich's divorce; and indebted clubs.
Last night was a wonderful football fest. The only disappointment was Alan Smith. In contrast to his apparent sharpness on Sat, he looked slow, off the pace and lacking in confidence and sharpness. I'm afraid he won't make it and it will be a race between him and Dong to the end of the season. In contrast, Ronnie was wonderful. It was an utterly world class display as he went through the whole box of tricks with two memorable moments: the goal of the season so far; but for me the priceless moment was when, hemmed in at the corner by two World Cup defenders, he spiralled his way through with a Western Roll. Matterazzi paid him the ultimate compliment by hacking his legs away. Brilliant!
Bobby great post re the crowd and very valid point as to why the crowd at every ground in the Prem lack atmosphere. Jack Thorley 2 European Cup wins is two more European cup wins than City have managed and the same as Barca and Juve have managed having spent more over the years it is also two more than Arsenal and Chelski have managed. But hey if I were the supporter of a club that had scored less European cup goals than Phil Neville or David May and had spent millions of pounds over the last 31 years only to see the might of Luton,Leicester,Coventry,Wimbledon and Chesterfield achieve more then I would apologise for my Club tarnishing the good name of Mancunian football. Then I would slope off to the Watelands and keep very very quiet indeed just like the other 20'000 bitters in your (lose terms) half full stadium do every other saturday.
Terry great post. I have to add that both Scholes and Giggs were also superb. I have been to these games in the past only to leave looking enviously at the talents that belonged to other clubs. This time the talent belongs to us and in Scholes Giggs Ronaldo and when firing Rooney we have some of the finest players anywhere in the world. It was great to watch and it was great that Becks got a good send off. He genuinely deserved it as he was the player who really won us the CL in 99. Robbo you sound positively bitter about Ronaldo again. When he hits them right then he has an open net as no keeper will ever get near one. That might happen in the CL final. They dont all go in by any means but I would enjoy Ronnie while you can as I have said before. In my experience players like him come round once in a lifetime.
Im going to grow a handlebar moustache and aim to plait the ends with the hair that seems to be rapidly sprouting from my ears. I will only shave once the treble has been achieved. By the way Gabby Heinze bears a striking resembalence to my daughters boyfriend, how will their relationship be affected if he is sold!