Manchester United

Amidst the memorial services to mark Wednesday’s 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, for survivor Sir Bobby Charlton the memories of that fateful day are never far from his thoughts.

At 1504 local time on Wednesday, exactly 50 years since BEA Elizabethan airliner G-ALZU crashed in heavy snow trying to take off from Munich airport, the 23 people in the diasaster who lost their lives will be remembered.

Amongst the eight first-team players, plus 15 backroom staff and journalists who perished in Munich was England international Duncan Edwards, hailed as one of the greatest players of his generation.

While the media focus will be on Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground where a day of memorial is planned, the survivors’ thoughts will be at the scene of the crash in southern Bavaria.

For Sir Bobby, who was just 20 years old and was returning with the team after beating Red Star Belgrade to reach the European Cup’s semi-finals, his thoughts are sure to be in Munich where his life changed forever.

“When we landed in Munich the weather was as bad as I had ever seen it,” Charlton wrote in his autobiography My Manchester United Years.

“By the third attempt at take-off, I was suddenly conscious of the silence inside the plane.

“Outside, the snowy field flew by, but not quickly enough it seemed.

“There was an awful noise, the grind of metal on metal. Then there was the void.

“When I came to, I was on the ground, outside the wrecked plane, but still strapped into my seat.

“I saw the bodies in the snow, though one small and passing mercy was that I didn?t recognise among the dead one of my closest friends, Eddie Colman.

“I woke the next morning in a hospital ward and in a nearby bed was a young German, looking at a newspaper.

“He was reading about the crash and read out the names and then, after a short pause, said, ‘Dead’.

“It was as though my life was being taken away, piece by piece.

But having suffered a punctured lung in the Munich disaster, Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later and was described by Charlton, who eventually won 106 caps for England and scored 49 goals, as “the only player that made me feel inferior”.

Charlton visited Edwards, who was 22 when he died and had been capped by England as a teenager, in the hospital and the experience has never left him.

“Duncan was in obvious pain when I visited him, but his spirit was still as strong as ever,” said Charlton.

“I felt my eyes smart while wondering all over again how it could be that this young giant of the game was so stricken while I could prepare to walk down the stairs before packing for home.

Charlton will join the last survivors of the squad - Albert Scanlon, Harry Gregg, Bill Foulkes and Kenny Morgans - at a memorial ceremony at Old Trafford which coincides with the service in Munich.

NO matter how you assess Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring figures this season, they are phenomenal.

The Madeiran magician has already scored nine goals in 2008, 21 goals in the last 16 matches and 19 Premier League goals for the season - despite not hitting a league goal until the end of September.

After 13 minutes, he might have thought about betting on Ronaldo to match the double hat-trick Bestie scored in the FA Cup at Northampton in 1970.

Ronaldo’s first came courtesy of one of many superb passes from Paul Scholes. Ronaldo chested it down to Nani, who immediately whipped the ball forward as the Portuguese wonder turned his marker and raced clear.

The cool finish was typical of a man in form as he passed the ball beyond James and inside the near post.

If that was delicate, his second was devastating as he crashed a free-kick into the top right hand corner with James frozen on the spot.

While Ronaldo is compiling his exceptional figures, Rooney - the man who shared the top scorer accolade with him last term - can’t get anywhere near.

But there can be no complaints about the physical strength and determination he produced to keep United buzzing against Portsmouth.

But for a lob that didn’t quite come off after 55 minutes, Rooney might have been on the scoresheet in front of England boss Fabio Capello.

When Rooney was substituted in the 73rd minute, the Italian made his exit too. Ronaldo headed for the bench at the same time and must have been puzzled as to how he went an hour after his first two without scoring again.

FA Cup fifth round draw

Bristol Rovers v Southampton
Cardiff City v Wolves
Sheffield United v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Barnsley
Manchester United v Arsenal
Preston v Portsmouth
Coventry City v West Brom
Chelsea v Huddersfield

Ties to be played on the weekend of February 16 and 17.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Manchester United beat Tottenham 3-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

United also had a second reason to celebrate as neighbour Manchester City was ousted by Sheffield United 2-1.

Robbie Keane gave Spurs a 24th-minute lead at Old Trafford, but Carlos Tevez tied it in the 38th. Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot in the 69th and added the third with two minutes to go.

“Ronaldo was fantastic again,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is chasing his sixth FA Cup triumph to go with his nine Premier League titles. “He took the penalty well and was able to cash in on a mistake late on for the second goal.

“His performances have been fantastic and his goals return is amazing.”

The Reds will join defending champion Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in Monday’s fifth round draw. The four powerhouse clubs, who traditionally dominate English soccer, have won the last 12 FA Cups and 15 out of the last 16.

Cristiano Ronaldo admits he is flattered to be compared to Manchester United great George Best but insists his only focus is winning the title.

The Portuguese winger is chasing Best’s record of 32 goals in a season after continuing his red-hot form with a goal against Reading on Saturday.

Ronaldo’s late effort at the Madejski Stadium took his tally for the campaign to 23 to equal his return of last season.

But while he is happy to be likened to United legend Best, Ronaldo insists his aim is to win the title, rather than set a new benchmark for a wide man.

Manchester United retained their position on top of the Barclays Premier League after goals from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo earned them a 2-0 victory over Reading.

United did not have it all their own way by any means and for a long time it appeared they would be denied by a combination of poor finishing, excellent goalkeeping and brave Reading defending.

But with 13 minutes remaining, Rooney latched onto Carlos Tevez’s through ball and directed his first-time shot past Hahnemann.

And as Reading pushed for the equaliser - James Harper’s low strike in the last minute went agonisingly wide - Ronaldo broke clear to wrap up the victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first hat-trick for Manchester United sent them to the Premier League summit as they destroyed managerless Newcastle at Old Trafford.

The winger’s free-kick broke the deadlock after 49 minutes and Carlos Tevez quickly tapped in a second.

Ronaldo capped a stunning four-man move for the third and Rio Ferdinand volleyed in a fourth after 85 minutes.

He sealed his treble via a deflection, and Newcastle’s Alan Smith saw red for dissent after Tevez’s disputed sixth.

Newcastle’s fans, stunned by Harry Redknapp’s refusal to succeed sacked Sam Allardyce, paraded banners calling for the appointment of Alan Shearer.

But the Tyneside legend is unlikely to have been tempted towards the hot-seat by what was on offer from a wretched Newcastle side.

New England coach Fabio Capello was in attendance as Wayne Rooney drove an early chance over the top as United set the platform for first-half domination.

Newcastle keeper Shay Given twice saved well from Rooney as United threatened to lay siege to the visitors’ goal.

Claudio Cacapa then cleared a goal-bound header from John O’Shea before the game had a moment of controversy after 28 minutes.

Ronaldo was furious - as was a gesticulating Sir Alex Ferguson - when referee Rob Styles turned down penalty appeals after he tumbled under challenge from Steven Taylor.

Old Trafford was in a fury, but Ronaldo was looking for the spot-kick and went to ground far too easily.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson hailed the introduction of Wayne Rooney from the bench as the inspiration for their 2-0 FA Cup win at Aston Villa.

The third-round tie appeared destined for a replay until Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring nine minutes from time and Rooney sealed the win late on.

“Wayne changed the game when he came on. He brought us thrust and enthusiasm and direct play,” Ferguson said.

“He attacked defenders and made a heck of a difference to the game.”

Under the watchful eye of England boss Fabio Capello, Rooney came off the bench to score United’s second at Villa Park and said he was always confident his side would progress.