What was supposed to be one of United's potential banana skins, particularly after losing twice in the capital already this season, saw their opponents dispatched by a generous margin and the game finishing in party spirit, with O'Shea the unlikely recipient of the visiting fans' songs.
Watching the first half would not had led anyone believing that United would finish with such ease. It was a scrappy affair and one of United's worse performances thus far. It took a disputed penalty just before half-time to separate the teams and United must have left the field grateful to be ahead. There should have been a penalty awarded at each end prior to this but out of the three claims, referee Clattenburg awarded the weakest. Ronaldo was adjudged to have been impeded by Malbranque despite trying to pull his foot away at the last second much to the home fans fury. Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot and despite Robinson diving the right way the ball had too much pace and accuracy for him to prevent the goal.
United restarted the second half with all the vigour they lacked in the first. Robinson was forced into 2 crucial saves before being beaten by a forceful header from Vidic, who rampaged through the area to meet Carrick's corner. Within minutes the lead was increased to 3.
Ronaldo cut across from the right into the penalty area, as he did for the penalty early. Lee Young-Pyo hesitated and was left standing, allowing Ronaldo to drive the ball across the face of the goal. Robinson could only deflect the ball into the path of a sliding Scholes who somehow managed to the bundle the ball over the line.
Saha came on for an injured Rooney and in the 77th minute his hard work and vision paid off as he released Giggs, who had timed his run perfectly, surging into the box and striking the ball home with his left foot.
While that was the last of the goals, the entertainment wasn't over. After making all 3 substitutions, United found themselves down to 10 men, Van der Sar taken off with a broken nose after a challenge by Keane. O'Shea took over goalkeeping duties with 5 minutes left on the clock. Within minutes he was called into action, a suicidal backpass from Ferdinand playing in Keane. O'Shea was quick to run out of the area and take the ball off his feet much to the amusement of the United bench and fans. 'Ireland's number one' was the chorus from the United faithful.
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