#4 vs. Bolton Wanderers, 17th March 2007
A couple of months after the Portsmouth chip came this gem. The summer of 2006 infamously saw Rooney clash with United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup, but the two evidently buried the hatchet – much to the delight of United fans who saw the two tear Premier League defences apart with goals like this one.
This time the move inexplicably began with a Bolton attack. The ball was thrown deep into United’s box, but the Trotters failed to capitalise and instead the ball ended up on Ronaldo’s chest. He controlled it and fired a long pass to Rooney, who deftly returned it with a turning flick. From there, Bolton’s defence was parted like the Red Sea.
Ronaldo charged with the ball into Bolton’s half while Rooney made a lung-busting run towards the box on his left. A perfectly timed pass from the Portuguese star found the England international, who took one touch with his right foot into the box before gently flicking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
From defence to attack to a goal in 11 seconds, this was a masterclass from two of United’s greatest ever players, and finished with aplomb by Rooney. It wasn’t an individual goal, but it remains one of his greatest efforts in a United shirt.
