Cristiano Ronaldo scored a second-half header on his return to Sporting Lisbon to ensure Manchester United's Champions League campaign started with a victory. Ronaldo won warm applause from the home fans for his subdued response to converting Wes Brown's cross after 61 minutes of a low-key encounter.Wayne Rooney made a quiet comeback after recovering from a broken foot. And United were grateful to keeper Edwin van der Sar, who made superb saves from Liedson and Tonel.
Rooney, as expected was restored to United's line-up for the first time since sustaining his injury in their opening Premier League fixture against Reading. Carlos Tevez dropped down to the bench, but Rooney and Ronaldo fed on scraps in a first 45 minutes in which United seemed set on containment. Van der Sar made a stunning save to keep them on level terms after 27 minutes, diving to save one-handed from Liedson's rising drive.
Nani, another United star returning to his former club, saw a shot deflected narrowly wide after 32 minutes, but then picked up a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Miguel Veloso. Ronny audaciously tried his luck from 35 yards from the resulting free-kick, but Van der Sar saved comfortably. Ronaldo started to influence affairs after the break, sending in a cross which was just too high for Ryan Giggs, who failed to control his header.
He made no mistake with his own headed opportunity as United took the lead after 61 minutes. Brown was the creator with a fine right-wing cross, which Ronaldo diverted past Vladimir Stojkovic with a diving header. Ronaldo's celebrations were muted as Sporting fans generously applauded his goal, against the club he left four years ago, aged 18.
Nani almost made it a double for United's former Sporting stars with a swerving long-range effort that Stojkovic palmed to safety with 20 minutes left. (BBC News)
