Ronaldo sends United six points clear

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the second goal against Reading during their English Premiership football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England. Ronaldo extended his recent scoring run with a second-half double as United overcame Reading 3-2 at Old Trafford on a day that saw Chelsea drop points for a second consecutive game with a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham.

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his remarkable scoring streak with two more goals that ensured Manchester United secured a 3-2 victory over Reading to move six points clear of Chelsea in the Premiership title race.

A first half header from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set Sir Alex Ferguson's side on course for three points and while the visitors replied through Ibrahima Sonko and a late strike from Leroy Lita, United held on to ensure the veteran manager can enjoy his 65th birthday celebrations on New Year's eve safe in the knowledge his side are in a commanding position in this season's title race.

This wasn't a vintage United performance and they once again required the inspirational form of Ronaldo -- who has now scored seven goals goals in his last five games -- to see off determined Reading resistance.

But with Chelsea failing to beat Fulham, it was the result that mattered and the pressure has now switched firmly back onto Jose Mourinho's side.

United started confidently enough and Cristiano Ronaldo provided an early glimpse of his recent form when he eased his way past Reading left-back Nicky Shorey before drawing an excellent save from Marcus Hahnemann from the tightest of angles.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (C) is chased by Reading's James Harper (R) during their English Premiership football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England. Ronaldo extended his recent scoring run with a second-half double as United overcame Reading 3-2 at Old Trafford on a day that saw Chelsea drop points for a second consecutive game with a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham.

But all too quickly the home side lost their way, allowing Reading to gain a foothold in the game that almost brought the visitors an early lead as they repeatedly troubled a United defence that was missing skipper Gary Neville, absent with a calf injury.

Neat interplay between Kevin Doyle, Glen Little and Shorey created an opening for Steve Sidwell who sent a left-foot shot high over Edwin van der Sar's goal.

Doyle again found a way past Neville's replacement Wes Brown before setting up Little only for the winger to fire wide.

Ferguson had praised the quality of his fringe players in the build up to this game but with Paul Scholes suspended and Louis Saha and Ryan Giggs starting among the substitutes, United appeared laboured and struggled to make inroads against the visitors' well-organised five-man defence.

The presence of Ronaldo, though, meant the home side was always capable of conjuring something out of nothing and the Portugese's powerful 28th minute header from Michael Carrick's corner was fumbled by Hahnemann, who was lucky to escape when Solskjaer's follow-up was cleared off the line.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson smiles prior to kick off against Reading's during their English Premiership football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England. Manchester won 3-2.

Then five minutes later the same United pair combined to more telling effect when Ronaldo whipped a left wing cross that Solskjaer met with a neat flick to head United into the lead.

United's lead wasn't convincing and they were pegged back in the 39th minute when Van der Sar misjudged Nicky Shorey's floated free-kick, allowing Sonko to out-jump the United defence and head into an empty net.

At that point it looked as though Ferguson's birthday celebrations would be muted but, no doubt fired by a half-time talking to from the manager, the home side finally clicked into gear in the second half.

An early Wayne Rooney snapshot signalled United's intent and the lead was restored in the 59th minute after a swift passing move started by Giggs, on as a half-time replacement for the ineffective Park Ji-Sung, paved the way for Solskjaer to fire an angled shot against the post. Ronaldo was on hand to finish from close range.

Reading's resistance was broken and their cause wasn't helped when Sam Sodje collected his second yellow card just nine minutes after coming on for the injured Graeme Murty.

With 13 minutes remaining Ronaldo volleyed home his second goal from Giggs's cross and United appeared to be cruising to a comfortable win.

But with the game in added time, Leroy Lita pounced on a Mikael Silvestre error to revive Reading hopes of emulating their draw at Stamford Bridge last week before the final whistle ensured 2006 ended on a positive note for United.