EVERYONE REMEMBERS CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s competitive debut for Manchester United – the dazzling, 30-minute cameo against Bolton in mid-August 2003.
But the teenager had to wait until 1st November to score his first goal for the club.
It came in a home clash with Portsmouth and the youngster was summoned from the bench, along with Roy Keane, to push United over the line with fourteen minutes to go.
Leading through Diego Forlan’s first-half strike, the game was still in the balance when the pair were introduced.
Just four minutes after coming on, Ronaldo’s free-kick from the left side evaded everyone and flew past Shaka Hislop in the Pompey goal.
And moments later, Keane put the result beyond any doubt by grabbing United’s third.
Ronaldo would finish his debut season with six goals for the club, including one in the 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
Here are the lineups from that winter’s afternoon at Old Trafford:
Man Utd:
Howard, Gary Neville, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Fortune, Fletcher, Butt, Djemba-Djemba (Keane 76), Giggs (Bellion 81), Forlan (Ronaldo 76), van Nistelrooy.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Phil Neville.
Portsmouth:
Hislop, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw, Foxe, Zivkovic (Roberts 81), Stone, Quashie, Sherwood (Taylor 69), Berger, Ayegbini, Sheringham.
Subs Not Used: Wapenaar, Schemmel, O’Neil.
