Cristiano Ronaldo saved Portugal from an embarrassing defeat in Armenia on Wednesday while Belgium dented Serbia's hopes of reaching Euro 2008 with a 3-2 qualifying win.
David Healy, the competition's top scorer, notched two goals to help Northern Ireland go second in Group F with a 3-1 victory over Liechtenstein.
Three of the night's six qualifiers involved teams in Group A where Portugal and Serbia's dropped points enabled Finland to move above them in the table with a 2-1 win at home to Kazakhstan.
Portugal found themselves a goal down in the 10th minute when Armenia's Robert Arzumanyan headed in a corner.
Manchester United winger Ronaldo calmed the visitors' rattled nerves in the 38th when he robbed an opponent and weaved and jinked his way into the penalty area before sliding the ball into the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo is adamant he should not be sitting out the Manchester derby after his red card in United's midweek draw with Portsmouth.The Portuguese winger is currently serving a three-match ban following his dismissal for an apparent headbutt on Pompey's Richard Hughes in the Fratton Park clash. The champions have picked up just two points from their opening two games, and will now be stripped of their star man's talents for the games against City, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.
But while Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to condemn any reaction from his players, Ronaldo refused accept the red card he was given was justified.
"The replays show there was nothing," Ronaldo told the Sun.
"But I don't need to look at the pictures, because I know exactly what I did - and that's nothing to justify a red card."
Ronaldo was eager to point out he did not headbutt Hughes in their coming together.
"I was pushed in the area. He came straight to me, put his hand on my neck and I opened my arms in a 'that's enough' way. We pushed each other but nothing serious," he added.
"We leaned heads against each other but that was all. Absolutely nothing else happened.
"When I saw the red card, I couldn't believe it, the situation was so surreal.
"And it's absurd because I'm aware that now I'll sit out a ban for something I didn't do. I feel dejected and very sad."
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has condemned Cristiano Ronaldo for reacting to provocation. The Portugal winger, 22, was sent off for appearing to headbutt Richard Hughes in United's draw at Portsmouth.
Ferguson said: "Cristiano is responsible for falling into the trap of intimidation, which has happened to him a few times. "I've seen the replay and there's nothing conclusive, my take is that he was provoked and he has fallen for it."
Ronaldo will miss three games, the standard ban for violent conduct, including Saturday's derby game with Manchester City.
It was his third red card since joining Manchester United, shown by referee Steve Bennett, who also came in for criticism from Ferguson.
The United boss said: "Steve Bennett sent him off at Manchester City and he will have loved the opportunity to send him off again.
"Carlos Tevez didn't get any protection either, I don't know how many times he got fouled from behind. He had to suffer a lot."
Portsmouth also had midfielder Sulley Muntari sent off after being shown two yellow cards.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for violent conduct as Manchester United slipped four points off the pace of the fledgling Barclays Premier League table with a fiery 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.
Ronaldo was given a straight red as Manchester United were held to a draw at Portsmouth. After being held to a surprise goalless stalemate by 10-man Reading in their opening clash, the champions looked set for a three-point haul thanks to a typical Paul Scholes goal 15 minutes in.
The former England midfielder connected first time with debutant Carlos Tevez's lay-off from the edge of the box, giving David James no chance. Portsmouth levelled in the 53rd minute when Benjani Mwaruwari timed his run from deep to perfection to power a header home from Matthew Taylor's left-wing cross.
Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari was shown red after 83 minutes after picking up a second yellow card and two minutes later Ronaldo was also given his marching orders by referee Steve Bennett after an incident involving Richard Hughes.
"He was provoked. He fell into the trap and he paid the penalty," said United manager Alex Ferguson who thought his side put up a good performance.
Ronaldo will now miss this weekend's Manchester derby plus two more games.
Wayne Rooney suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot as Manchester United stumbled at the first hurdle in their Barclays Premier League title defence, held to an Old Trafford draw by 10-man Reading.
With Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all scrambling victories from their opening fixtures, United immediately find themselves adrift after a game of missed chances......More
He may be regarded as the best player in the world, but Cristiano Ronaldo admits Sir Alex Ferguson makes sure he does not step out of line.
In fact, Fergie rules Manchester United with such an iron fist, it reminds the winger of his early days at home in Portugal.
"He's like my mother or my father, he gives me limits and targets," said the 22-year-old. "But he's fair. The work I've done with Sir Alex has been very helpful. I speak almost every day with him. He knows how to create a good atmosphere."
Ronaldo gave a rare insight into his relationship with the Old Trafford manager, acknowledging the debt of gratitude he owes for Fergie helping to turn him into such a formidable player. He scooped all the Player of the Year awards last season for his inspired role in helping United to a ninth Premiership title, but confessed he can still incur Fergie's wrath when the veteran boss is on the warpath.
"Sometimes he shakes me, he shouts at me, it's normal," said Ronaldo. "At half-time during games, he has shouted at me a few times, but always to improve me. People say he's mellowed, but he can still get angry - believe me!
"Before every game the manager tells me 'Cristiano, enjoy yourself, use your skills'. I listen to that. I like dribbling, it's my style. But I've never taken the mickey out of my opponents. I respect them.
"At the highest level, if you don't respect your opponents, you won't get a touch. Every dribble asks for a lot of concentration, it's very demanding, against anyone."
Despite all his individual awards last term, it is clear the Premiership title - United's first in four seasons - meant the most.
By the same token, United's agonising defeats to AC Milan in the semi-final of the Champions League and Chelsea in the FA Cup Final are the enduring memories that will drive on Ronaldo in pursuit of more honours this season.
"Last season I was voted Player of the Year by the players, the journalists and the supporters," said Ronaldo in Zoo magazine.
"You don't get that kind of unanimity without having a great season. It was a reward for all my hard work and means I reached my targets.
"But an individual trophy will never be as strong as one you share with your team-mates, even though it remains a great joy. I am proud of what I did."
Despite the heroics which turned Ronaldo from Public Enemy No.1 following his World Cup spat with Wayne Rooney, into the Premiership's star attraction, there are still those who remain unconvinced by the Portugal international.
He polarises opinion like no other player. There are those who continue to brand him a diver, those who feel he goes to ground too easily and those who claim he only turns on the style against lesser opponents and has not proved himself a big-game player.
They are charges Ronaldo rejects. "Last season, I had great games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the league," he said. "I was good against Roma in the Champions League. There was a lot at stake in those games. I think I've shown I can be good in important games. The only ones who really matter to me are the United fans. If the opposition supporters respect me, that's all good. But if they hate me? Fair enough, I accept it.
"I know that during certain games I do too much. But I can't deny myself. This is my way of playing football, I take risks, I dribble, I shoot.
"With the replays, people can make their own opinion. But I don't cheat. I don't do that. Some people don't like me and have a bad opinion of me, but what can I do?
"During last season's derby against Manchester City, a player stamped on me. The supporters booed me and said I had simulated. I don't care. I do my work. People have their own opinion of me, I can't do anything about it."
Despite his elevation to A-list celebrity status, confirmation of which came when he was mobbed by adoring fans everywhere he went on United's pre-season tour of the Far East, Ronaldo insists nothing will be allowed to affect his love of the game.
"Football is my life," he said. "When I was a kid, I only dreamt about it, to play in big stadiums, to be a professional and to win titles. This is the life I have always dreamt about, so how can I be sad?
"Sometimes you get upset by missed chances and defeats. I can be angry on the pitch, but never sad. I enjoy myself with a ball. I don't ever recall a game when I didn't have fun. It's never happened to me."
Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he is still scared of Sir Alex Ferguson and claimed the Manchester United boss shakes him and shouts at him when he feels his star player is underperforming.
Ronaldo scooped all the Player of the Year awards last season after helping inspire United to a ninth Premiership crown.
But the 22-year-old winger admitted Fergie can still strike fear into him with his infamous hairdryer treatment.
"Sometimes he shakes me and he shouts at me," revealed Ronaldo. "It's normal. He's like my mother or my father, he gives me limits and targets. But he is fair." "At half-time during games, he has shouted at me a few times, but always to improve me. People say he's mellowed, but he can still get angry - believe me!
"But the work I have done with Sir Alex has been very helpful. I speak almost every day with him. He knows how to create a good atmosphere.
"Before every game the manager tells me 'Cristiano, enjoy yourself, use your skills'. I listen to that. I like dribbling - it's my style.
"But I have never taken the mickey out of my opponents. I respect them.
"At the highest level, if you don't respect your opponents, you won't get a touch. Every dribble asks for a lot of concentration, it's very demanding, against anyone."
United tasted defeat in their first domestic action of pre-season, losing out in a five-goal thriller to Inter Milan at Old Trafford.
A massive crowd of 73,738 - a record friendly attendance at Old Trafford - were treated to a highly entertaining 90 minutes between the champions of England and Italy.
Roberto Mancini's Inter won thanks to a brace from David Suazo and a neat finish from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Wayne Rooney and an Adriano own goal were United's efforts......More
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I'm not Ronaldo. I am Cristiano Ronaldo. I like my name. I like wearing shirts written Ronaldo on my back.... 17cr
" I'ma goodsingleton...I'm happywith that.At this moment,Marriage...is NOTon the agenda."- CR -
....According to the newspapers,I have 20 girlfriends...But I have onlymet two or threeof them....- CR -
.....When I left Madeira for Lisbon
l was only 11, was very difficult.
I used to cry everyday,
I will never forget it. I learn how to survie by myself......
"...I was very easy to please.At Christmas and on my birthday,I always wantedto have a football.In those dayswe didn't havethe moneyget nice presents,but if I was given a ball"I was happy.....- CR -
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