Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Manchester United beat Fulham 2-0 on Monday to reclaim second place in the English Premier League.
Ronaldo, who finished second to AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka for European Golden Ball award on Sunday, scored in the 10th and 58th minutes at Old Trafford to increase his season total to 13 goals in 11 games. It also gave him six in his last four appearances against Fulham.
Ronaldo appeared certain to score a third with 12 minutes remaining when he appeared to get around goalkeeper Antti Niemi. But he went down under the goalkeeper's challenge and was shown a yellow card for a dive, a decision that infuriated manager Alex Ferguson.
PHOTO: AFP
"The penalty kick incident is the result of a perceived idea of the referee that Ronaldo dived, there's no question about that," Ferguson said.
"In this case, the goalkeeper has conned the referee. There's no question the goalkeeper got Ronaldo booked. Why would he dive? It's a ridiculous decision," the Scot said.
The United manager was disappointed his team didn't score more.
"It was a comfortable 2-0 win even though Fulham had a lot of possession in the game," Ferguson said. "Too many chances missed."
"It was a reasonable performance. When we put our foot on the gas, we looked as if we could score goals all the time," he said.
United's 10th victory of the season gave them 33 points from 15 matches, moving them back in front of Chelsea and Liverpool -- both of whom won over the weekend -- and three points behind Arsenal.
Arsenal, who are unbeaten with 11 wins and three draws, could move six points ahead with a victory at Newcastle today in a rescheduled match.
Monday's loss left 14th-placed Fulham two points above the relegation zone.
Wayne Rooney returned after missing three matches for United -- as well as two for England -- with an ankle injury and partnered Carlos Tevez in attack.
United took only 10 minutes to go ahead when Fulham midfielder Steven Davis, attempting to a clear a corner, headed it to Nemanja Vidic who set up an unmarked Ronaldo for a 12m volley.
As the home side maintained the early possession, Fulham goalkeeper Niemi twice was forced into dramatic saves to thwart Tevez.
Nieme's United counterpart, Edwin van der Sar, likewise made a diving save against his former club to deny Danny Murphy, and Shefki Kuqi headed wide four minutes before halftime.
Ronaldo added the second in the 58th minute when he got ahead of Fulham defender Aaron Hughes to meet a cross from John O'Shea and converted with a downward header.
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez responded by inserting former United striker David Healy for Clint Dempsey to field two strikers.
THE ENGLAND JOB
AFP, LONDON
Jose Mourinho would be "honored" to become England coach according to an adviser of the former Chelsea manager.
The Portuguese has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the post after England's Football Association sacked Steve McClaren last month after the national side's 3-2 defeat against Croatia at Wembley meant the team failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick has been canvassing opinion from leading soccer figures both at home and abroad, including Manchester United's Scottish manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, as he seeks a new England coach.
However officials at the governing body have been keen to stress that no one has yet been approached formally to take the job.
"To be manager of England is not the same as being manager of another country," Eladio Parames, Mourinho's adviser, told Sky Sports News. "To be manager of England is a big job, a very interesting job and every coach would be honored to be invited."
"I can't say whether he is interested or not but he loves English football and he loves the crowds, so I am sure he would consider it," Parames said.
Mourinho quit Chelsea in September.
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