Blog: Does it on the big stage-Ron loves the big stage

16/04/2009 12:00, Report by David Stowell

After a tense night in Portugal, MUTV Commentator David Stowell marvels at the man from Madeira and yet another of his torpedo style wonderstrikes...

It must be an odd feeling being told you’re the best in the world. Not average. Not just good. Not just your team’s top man, but the planet’s stand-out performer. It’s a frightening thought and a whole world of pressure to land on the shoulders of someone who is in their early twenties.

But - and let’s face it, you knew a ‘but’ was coming - last night in the buzzing cauldron of noise and general hysteria aptly nicknamed “The Dragons’ Den”, we caught another glimpse of why Cristiano was last year voted the globe’s greatest.

Let’s not beat around the bush, last night was pivotal. Before the game United had 90 minutes to continue what could be the most glorious of seasons, but also potentially an hour and a half from seeing an emotionally and physically draining campaign begin to unravel at the worst possible time. If you believe those in the newspaper business, our seasons are always teetering on a knife edge. We needed industry as well as inspiration. A cool head mixed with red-hot accuracy.

With the press box full of headline writers sharpening their pencils and ready to toss United’s season onto the bonfire, our wing wizard stepped forward, reached into his box of tricks and pulled out a jet-propelled rocket. He held the defender at arms length, dropped his shoulder, lit the blue touch paper a full 40 yards from goal and it shot off into the night sky. Everything seemed to slow down as the stadium held its breath.

Helton in goal probably thought he was well prepared for the arrival of a firecracker from that distance, after all he was wearing gloves and it was raining. But his foamed

fingertips didn’t even get close. As the Brazilian keeper grasped at thin air, those in blue prayed for one thing, those in red, another. Ronny’s match-winning missile cut through the ‘Dragao’ drizzle, accelerating to break-neck speed before exploding into the net, sending Porto’s European dream up in smoke.

Hysterical voices of commentators around the ground, speaking in a multitude of languages, went into orbit just as the ball had. Maybe Porto’s absent coach knew what was going to happen, running for cover before the game had even started.

The shot was caught speeding through the night sky at no less than 65 miles per hour. It was a truly jaw-dropping strike, and not bad for someone who supposedly doesn’t do it on the big stage.

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.