0 minutes: Lennon kicks off to Jenas. Jenas in possession. He plays a simple short pass to Lennon. Lennon in possession. Cute turn, as he tries to beat his marker. Hargreaves reads the situation well, cleanly dispossessing Lennon. He plays a simple pass to Scholes, who is in turn quickly closed-down. Bale blocks the attempted pass, but at the expense of a throw-in.

3 minutes: Cristiano Ronaldo in possession, after that short throw-in from Carrick. A quick 1-2 by Cristiano Ronaldo takes him past his man. Cristiano Ronaldo distributes possession to Carrick. Nani controls the square pass from Carrick. They're looking comfortable on the ball, as Nani transfers possession to Carrick with the minimum of fuss. Carrick on to Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo with his head-up, scanning the area around him. He plays a perfectly weighted through-pass, dissecting the defence and playing his team mate into space in a dangerous part of the park. Rooney, driving into the box. Rooney draws the goalkeeper and, with a team mate square, somehow contrives to place his shot wide of the near post - his team mate is furious!

7 minutes: Robinson lumps the ball upfield, towards Lennon. Lennon with the ball. He tries to go around the outside of Hargreaves, but Hargreaves is having none-of-it. Good tackle, as the ball rolls out for a throw-in to Lennon.

8 minutes: Bale restarts the match with a simple throw-in to Lennon. Lennon with the ball. He plays a through-ball ball towards his team mate but the defender holds off the attacker and shepherds the ball out for a goal kick.

9 minutes: van der Sar with the big kick, deep into the opposition half. Jenas slams into Nani, while competing for that ball. That looks painful, as it was Jenas's shoulder that made contact with Nani. The referee blows for a foul but does't award a card, acknowledging that it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, without malicious intent. Another ref on another day might not be so lenient next time! He awards the free kick to Nani, who doesn't look too happy.

10 minutes: Not wanting to waste any more time, the referee signals for the free kick to be taken and Carrick obliges by playing it simple, to Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo receives the ball. Good first touch as he brings it forward. In space, he decides to cross the ball, aiming for the run of Scholes. Scholes tries to take on Bale, but Bale stands his ground and makes a clean tackle. Bale, in possession, distributes the ball to Lennon. Bent is beautifully slipped-in, from the inch-perfect through-pass by Lennon! Bent, driving into the box. Bent draws the goalkeeper and, with a team mate square, somehow contrives to place his shot wide of the near post - his team mate is furious!

12 minutes: van der Sar directs the goal kick long, in the direction of Saha. Alert play by Carvalho, as he makes a good tackle. Simple pass to King. Good passing and movement, as King passes short to Lennon. Lennon with the ball and looking comfortable. He sees the run of Berbatov and plays a slide-rule pass through the crowded defence. Speed of thought beats speed of foot, as Berbatov times his run to perfection, collects the pass and finishes in one movement - excellent GOAL!

15 minutes: Cristiano Ronaldo kicks off to Carrick. Carrick distributes possession to Hargreaves. Thumped down the pitch by Hargreaves. Good tackle by Carvalho, against Rooney. No messing-around, as he belts it long, towards the head of Bent. That challenge by Ferdinand is too strong for the ref. Free kick, not far from goal. Will someone have a pop?

17 minutes: There are a number of candidate eyeing up this opportunity. It's tapped short to Bale but this time it's no good as it sails harmlessly over the bar - perhaps someone else will take the next one?

18 minutes: van der Sar thumps the goal kick long, towards the head of Scholes. Cross by Scholes, in the vague direction of Rooney. Safety-first, as King turns the cross away for a corner.

19 minutes: Carrick takes a quick short-corner to Cristiano Ronaldo, changing the angle of the play. Cristiano Ronaldo receives the ball. Good first touch as he brings it forward. In space, he decides to cross the ball, aiming for the run of Saha. Carvalho under the ball. He hasn't heard the call from his goalkeeper and puts it out for a corner.

21 minutes: Robinson shows good hands in claiming Carrick's corner. Robinson decides they'll play a bit of possession football, passing the ball short to Robinson rather than going long. Bale tries to pick out the run of Berbatov with the through-pass. Intercepted by Ferdinand. He then pumps it long, into the approximate vicinity of Scholes. Bale makes an honest attempt to win the ball, but taps Scholes on the heels and gets nothing of the ball. The crowd are on their feet! Penalty, despite Bale's protests.

23 minutes: Cristiano Ronaldo with the penalty and he tucks it into the bottom corner. GOAL! Robinson guessed right, but he couldn't quite get there in time. That has relieved the tension in the stadium!

24 minutes: Lennon kicks off to Jenas. Jenas on to Hleb. Jenas controls the square pass from Hleb. The ball is with Hleb, after the short pass from Jenas. Hleb makes a bit of space and he plays a typically penetrating through-ball behind the defence. Miscontrol from Bent, as he picks up that pass. Under pressure, he is having to hurry his shot and, slightly off-balance, he miscues, sending it wide.

27 minutes: van der Sar plays a short goal kick to Carrick. A quick 1-2 by Carrick takes him past his man. Saha is beautifully slipped-in, from the inch-perfect through-pass by Carrick! That's a well-disciplined backline as they retain their shape to catch Saha offside.

29 minutes: Short free kick, King to Chimbonda. Spotter's badge for Chimbonda as he slides a measured pass through, for the run of Hleb. Hleb with the ball at his feet and in a bit of space. He looks up, sees the movement of Lennon in the box and delivers a peach of a cross. Lennon runs forward with the ball. He strikes the ball well, but van der Sar is well placed and shows excellent handling by hanging on to that shot. van der Sar has gathered the ball in safely. He looks around, while raising an arm to signal to his team mates that he is in control.

van der Sar hugs the ball to his chest, while he scans the area. Seeing nothing immediately on, he rolls the ball short to Terry. Rooney goes up for the long ball, played in by Terry. King under the high ball and he calmly makes a lay-off to Rosický. Rosický, with the ball, steps into a bit of space and immediately plays a typically incisive through-ball to Bent. Bent sliding in at full-stretch to get that shot away. He's leaning back and the shot soars over the crossbar. That was a difficult chance!

34 minutes: van der Sar lumps the ball upfield, towards Scholes. Bale gets a foot in, then shrugs off the attention of Scholes, before playing it short to Rosický. Hleb is beautifully slipped-in, from the inch-perfect through-pass by Rosický! Good control by Hleb, as he fashions the space to play a pacy cross into the danger area, near Lennon. Lennon runs forward with the ball. He strikes the ball well, but van der Sar is well placed and shows excellent handling by hanging on to that shot. With that save, van der Sar has silenced the crowd for the time being. van der Sar rolls it out to Terry. Terry makes a simple lay-off to van der Sar. Thumped down the pitch by van der Sar. Rooney wins the header and loops his flick-on towards Scholes. Bale reads the play well, making the tackle then passing short to Jenas. Jenas spots the movement of Hleb and tries to thread a through-ball to him. Alert play as Evra snaps up the pass and quickly moves the ball on to Nani. Nani with the ball as he attempts to take it past the defender. Rosický reads the game well and takes the ball off Nani. He keeps it simple and plays the short pass to Hleb. Hleb tries to pick out the run of Berbatov with the through-pass. Characteristically fine anticipation, as Terry steps-in and cuts-out the pass, before laying the ball off to Evra. Evra with the ball. He looks up and plays a lofted pass forward and down the pitch, in the approximate direction of Saha. Good tackle, as Saha is robbed by Carvalho. The ball rolls out for a corner with both players appealing - the ref decides it touched Carvalho last.

43 minutes: Carrick with the corner kick. He is trying to pick out Nani. Good leap by Nani, but he can't quite direct his header and it drifts over the bar.

44 minutes: A punt down the field from that goal kick, by Robinson to Rosický. Carrick, with a tackle on Rosický. Carrick keeps play moving, playing it short to Cristiano Ronaldo. The defender has no answer, as Cristiano Ronaldo jinks his way past with a scintillating display of close-control. The crowd are on their feet!