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As Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to face Sporting in the Champions League, we recall the 2003 friendly against Manchester United in the same stadium. The game that made him… On November 22, Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon with Real Madrid. He does so as a three-time Champions League winner, a three-time Ballon dOr winner, and the man who captained his country to glory at Euro 2016.Its been quite the journey. But in a sense, when he sets foot on that turf, the home of his old club Sporting, hes going back to the start. It was Ronaldos extraordinary performance in a friendly to commemorate the inauguration of the stadium that set him on this path. Manchester United were the visitors, fresh from a successful pre-season tour of the United States in which theyd won all of their games - including convincing victories over Celtic, Juventus and Barcelona. And yet, they werent prepared for what awaited them in Lisbon.Ronaldo was ready. Although his Portugal debut was still a fortnight away, his reputation was growing fast. Hed been a visitor to Arsenals London Colney training ground for three days the previous November, having scored twice on his Sporting debut a month earlier.But it was United who really got to see what Ronaldo could do close-up and with a crowd to entertain. Inspired by the chance to impress, the 55,000 in the Alvalade saw the 18-year-old run through his now famous repertoire of stepovers. His quality was immediately apparent. Ronaldo tells the story of the time he dazzled Manchester United Gary Neville was watching at home and recalls being wide-eyed at what he was witnessing. I thought bloody hell, he said. Neville paid particular attention to Ronaldos movement given that he was playing on the left - tormenting the England mans deputy at right-back. Sir Alex Ferguson signed Ronaldo soon after seeing his performance Neville had the easy job. John OShea was the man tasked with marking the teenager. It proved an ordeal as the Irishman was left befuddled by the wingers tricks and helpless to deal with his sheer speed. It could have been anyone but there wasnt much sympathy. Ronaldo agrees new deal Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a contract extension to remain with Real Madrid until 2021. Ryan Giggs, watching safely from the sidelines, saw the funny side. You see Ronaldo get the ball, and you see him turn John OShea inside out, and youre having a little giggle to yourself, he admitted. OShea returned to the dressing room at half time exhausted.Describing the scene, Rio Ferdinand claimed that OShea was sitting there like he needed some oxygen while captain Roy Keane went further. Sheasy ended up seeing the doctor at half time because he was actually having dizzy spells, he recalled in his autobiography.OShea insists thats a little over the top. Its fair to say theres exaggerations in peoples autobiographies from time to time, he told talkSPORT. While he did give me a roasting, there wasnt too many dizzy spells. There was a bit of jetlag, but there was no dizzy spells. Ronaldos display at the Estadio Jose Alvalade wowed his future team-mates Even so, Sir Alex Ferguson put OShea out of his misery early in the second half after seeing Ronaldo cut through the United defence one time too many. With help from Mikael Silvestre, Fabien Barthez kept that one out, just as hed parried a first-half effort clear.Indeed, perhaps the only surprise was that Ronaldo failed to get on the scoresheet. It was Luis Filipe who gave Sporting the lead before star forward Joao Pinto added two more goals. But there was no question who the United players were talking about afterwards. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. He just lit up the game, said Giggs. All the lads were talking to him after the game and I remember we were waiting on the coach and everybody was wondering what we were waiting for. And then we just got a little whisper that the deal was being done.When the signing was announced, Ferguson stressed it was no rush move even if other clubs had forced United to act earlier than planned. Weve been negotiating for Cristiano for quite some time, he explained. Sporting honoured our agreement of months ago.Still, the reaction of his players had been noted. The lads in the dressing room talked about him constantly, said Ferguson, and on the plane back they urged me to sign him - thats how highly they rated him. He is one of the most exciting young players Ive ever seen. Ballon dOr explainer With FIFA launching their own award, we explain the latest on the Ballon dOr. According to Keane, the players would later joke that Sheasy actually sealed the deal by playing like a clown - not that he didnt have a good comeback. Look, everyone should be happy he came to United a year earlier because of it, said OShea.Ronaldo has made many trips back to the Alvalade since, most notably scoring in a Euro 2004 semi-final win over Netherlands and getting the only goal of the game on his Champions League return to the stadium as a Manchester United player in 2007.But when he lines up with Real Madrid later this month, perhaps its his first game in the stadium - the first game in the stadium - that will loom largest in his thoughts. The game in which he won over his team-mates-to-be and gave a hint of the brilliance that was to follow.Watch #CR7Live on Wednesday at 1pm on SkySports.com, Sky Sports Facebook page and on the Soccer AM You Tube Channel. Also See: Ronaldo agrees new deal Ballon dOr explainer Jorge Guzman Jersey . TSN 1290s game day coverage begins on Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm ct as the Blue Bombers take on the Toronto Argonauts in pre-season action. Bombers game day broadcasts on TSN 1290 are hosted by Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Famers Troy Westwood and new addition Chris Walby, alongside beat reporter Darrin Bauming, who delivers regular reports on the team for TSN 1290 all-season long. Miami Marlins Gear . PETERSBURG, Fla. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/1411r...ey-marlins.html. "I could have been equipment manager but nooooo" from Lisa on Ice. Season 6, Episode 8. Henderson Alvarez Jersey . - Connor McDavid scored twice and added two assists as the Erie Otters beat the Sarnia Sting 7-3 on Saturday night in Ontario Hockey League action. Miami Marlins Shirts . With the Rangers already leading 2-0, Carey Price was taken down early in the second period of New Yorks 7-2 pounding of the Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final on Saturday afternoon.NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter received warm ovations from the 40,133 at Citi Field when he jogged onto the field during warmups, as a video tribute to him was shown on the scoreboard after the national anthem and before each of his four at-bats. There was little fanfare, though, when the Yankees captain was taken out of his final regular-season Subway Series game in the eighth inning. Jeter watched the last four outs from the bench, pulled off the field during a double switch Thursday night as the Yankees held off the Mets 1-0. "I just told him Im going to make a double-switch. Its where we are in the lineup; thats how you do it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of the conversation on the mound with two outs in the eighth. "He understands." Its not the first time Jeter had been removed in a double switch in his 133 games at a NL ballpark. He was taken out by Girardi in 2010 and he was lifted by Joe Torre in 2007, according to STATS. David Robertson didnt even know he was brought in to face David Wright in a double switch that lifted Jeter until he got Wright to ground out to Jeters replacement at shortstop, defensive whiz Brendan Ryan, with runners at the corners. Robertson pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save. Six weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Jeter left after an 0-for-4 night that dropped his batting average to .254. Alfonso Sorianos RBI double in the seventh broke up a scoreless duel at Citi Field between starting pitchers making their major league debuts. Rookie reliever Dellin Betances struck out six straight hitters as the Yankees earned a split of this years series between crosstown rivals with their second straight shutout. "Its impressive," Wright said of Betances. "He had his way with us for sure." In a matchup of late-round picks in the 2010 draft, Yankees starter Chase Whitley (15th round) pitched two-hit ball for 4 2-3 innings, striking out four and walking two. Mets starter Jacob deGrom (ninth round) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking two. "It was unbelievable to watch that guy," Whitley said of deGrom. "He pitched a heck of a game." In addition to a commanding performance on the mound, the 25-year-old deGrom helped Mets pitchers end an unusual record for futility. He lined a single to centre field in the third inning to end the staffs 0-for-64 start to the season. The Mets had long passed a century-old record established by the St. Louis Browns. They went hitless in 45 at-bats in 1914, according to information provided by the Mets from the Elias Sports Bureau. Whitley also got a hit in his first at-bat -- even before he allowed a hit.dddddddddddd "I was bragging about my hitting before the game," Whitley said, "but then I gave one right back to that guy." Young pitchers dominated the series in both games at spacious Citi Field after two slugfests in the Bronx. Masahiro Tanaka pitched his first major league shutout Wednesday, a 4-0 win for the Yankees. After Rafael Montero started his big league career with a fine six-inning performance against Tanaka, deGrom distinguished himself. "Its amazing. You cant say enough good things about those two guys," Wright said. Its been 12 years since a team had pitchers make their big league debuts in consecutive games. Milwaukee did it Sept. 2-3, 2002. Jeter was honoured by the Mets before the game. He received several subway-themed gifts, including a "Cake Boss" creation and a No. 2 mosaic made of subway tiles. The Mets Foundation gave Jeter a $22,222.22 donation to his Turn 2 Foundation. But he did little at the plate. He lined into a double play in the third with runners on first and second. Then with two on in the eighth, he hit a grounder to shortstop Ruben Tejada, who threw home for a tag play at the plate to keep the score 1-0. "Theres a time when the respect for the game takes over and you cant do what you once did," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "The game deserves all you can give it, and if its not there you got to step aside. Some guys have a tough time doing it but the really great ones dont." Soriano lined a double to left-centre and catcher Brian McCann scored from first, sliding home as Tejadas relay forced catcher Juan Centeno to leap for it. McCann reached when first baseman Lucas Duda failed to scoop Wrights relay on a potential double-play grounder. Up until then, the Yankees had little success against the shaggy-haired deGrom. The former college shortstop was initially called up to pitch out of the bullpen, but got the start in place of Dillon Gee, who pulled a lat muscle. The 24-year-old Whitley was not even on the Yankees 40-man roster this winter, but with starters CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova all injured, he got the call after just 13 Triple-A starts over three seasons. NOTES: Wright struck out three times. ... Jeter finished with a .364 career regular-season average against the Mets with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 360 at-bats. ... The Yankees placed OF Carlos Beltran (bone spur) on the 15-day DL. He felt a sharp pain in his right elbow taking practice swings Monday ... Former Mets closer John Franco threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Mets C Travis DArnaud was placed on the 7-day concussion list. ' ' '
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