Manchester United made light work of their Carling Cup third round clash with Middlesbrough.
Ronaldo scores in first start of season
Manchester United made light work of their Carling Cup third round clash with Middlesbrough as they sealed a 3-1 win at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo was handed his first start of the season and he inspired his side to glory as he headed them ahead after just 25 minutes.
Boro levelled when substitute Adam Johnson's volley deflected past debutant Ben Amos in the United goal.
But the visitors, who were lucky to be level, were then reduced to 10 men when captain Emanuel Pogatetz saw red for a reckless challenge on Rodrigo Possebon.
Chris Riggott was brought on in defence, but he slipped as he tried to control the ball which allowed Ryan Giggs to put United ahead.
The win was sealed as United capitalised on yet another defensive mistake, this time from David Wheater, in the final minute as Nani latched onto the attempted back pass and fired home.
Sir Alex Ferguson has traditionally tended to use the League Cup as a proving ground but all too often in recent years it has signalled the end of first-team dreams rather than the start.
However, 12 months on from a dreadful home loss to Coventry, this crop of Red Devils youngsters showed they were up to the task with Rafael Da Silva, Danny Welbeck and Possebon all showing up well alongside the likes of Nani and Anderson.
Nani appeared to be on a one-man mission to score, only to find Boro's own talented youngster, Wheater, in top form, along with Brad Jones, who made a series of excellent saves.
Ronaldo goal
Neither Wheater nor Jones could do anything about Ronaldo's header though, the prospective world footballer of the year racing away to celebrate what he hopes will be the end of the most turbulent period in his career.
Boro boss Gareth Southgate lifted this cup in 2004, the only time Boro have won a major trophy, but he must have been sadly disappointed with his side's first half showing.
Afonso Alves threatened early on and Stewart Downing got into some good positions but the Teessiders never threatened rookie keeper Amos, propelled into Ferguson's side due to injury.
But if the England Youth international had allowed himself a slight smile of satisfaction during the interval, Amos received a rude awakening 12 minutes after the restart as Johnson lashed Boro level.
There appeared little danger as Nemanja Vidic nodded Downing's cross out of the area but Johnson caught his first-time volley perfectly, giving Amos little chance of keeping it out.
At that point, the game was in the balance but soon came the twist which saw Pogatetz sent from the field.
The Boro captain got to the ball just in front of Possebon as the pair went for it in fully committed fashion. But Pogatetz's dangerous follow-through cut Possebon down, a nasty gash instantly appearing on the Brazilian's right leg as he yelled in agony.
It took the United medical staff five minutes to treat the Brazilian and substantially less for referee Andre Marriner to show Pogatetz the red card.
With a man advantage, United were given another advantage 11 minutes from time when Chris Riggott stood on the ball attempting to control Darron Gibson's long pass, enabling Giggs to advance and calmly chip past Jones.
Nani wrapped up the win in stoppage time, although Boro were a spent force by then.
