Cristiano Ronaldo finished off Spurs

United 3 Spurs 1

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his astonishing scoring spree to steer Manchester United through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Portugal winger set a seasonal best tally of 25 goals for the club with a brace against 10-man Tottenham. Yet the Carling Cup finalists will be left cursing their luck after squandering a number of chances.

They were also left to rue defender Michael Dawson's sending off at a crucial stage of the game.

Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo both had good efforts for United but it was Tottenham who almost made the breakthrough through Dimitar Berbatov.

He got on the end of a corner from Aaron Lennon, only for Rooney to clear off the line feet. and get a pat on the back from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the 16th minute.

Tottenham, however, did go ahead in the 24th minute when Aaron Lennon skipped away from Patrice Evra. He delivered the ball into the area and Robbie Keane scored from close range.

Tottenham were looking dangerous on the counter attack and Berbatov picked out Lennon in the 32nd minute. As he was being shadowed by Wes Brown, Lennon tried his luck on goal but failed to test van der Sar.

United stepped up the pace and Radek Cerny did well to tip over a shot from Ryan Giggs after 37 minutes.

The equaliser came a minute later and Giggs played a crucial role in the build up. He held off the challenge of
Young-Pyo Lee and that enabled Carlos Tevez to fire a shot into the corner beyond Cerny.

It was just the boost United were looking for and and Carrick clipped a shot over the bar in the 41st minute.

Jenas should have regained the lead for Spurs in stoppage time when he was clean through. However he failed to get enough power on his effort and van der Sar was able to push it to safety.

Tottenham came close to regaining their lead in the 47th minute when Evra slipped and let in the pacey Lennon.

He raced forward and tried to chip van der Sar only for his effort to finish on the roof of the net.

Jamie O'Hara then curled a 25-yard free kick wide before Jenas fluffed his lines again in the 55th minute. He had only van der Sar to beat but failed to test the Dutch goalkeeper with his effort.

United responded and Tevez picked out Ronaldo in the 59th minute but his shot went narrowly wide.

Ferguson then decided a change was needed and Paul Scholes was introduced in the 65th minute. Making his first appearance in three months after a knee operation he was given a rousing ovation by the home fans when he replaced Carrick.

Scholes was quickly into the action and released Tevez with a precise pass in the 67th minute but he fired a shot over the bar.

The tie took a dramatic turn a minute later when Dawson was sent off for a hand ball in the area under pressure from Rooney. Ronaldo stepped and slotted the spot kick into the corner to put United 2-1 ahead with his 24th goal for the club.

Down to 10 men and a goal down, Tottenham looked a little bit deflated as the game entered a crucial stage.

However they almost drew level when Berbatov's effort in the 85th minute came back off the post after a good through ball from Steed Malbranque.

Ronaldo got his second in the 88th minute when he got away from substitute Chris Gunter and his shot squirmed under Cerny's body, leaving the goalkeeper red-faced.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra (Simpson 90), Ronaldo, Carrick (Scholes 64), Hargreaves, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez (Anderson 81).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani.

Booked: Evra.

Goals: Tevez 38, Ronaldo 69 pen, 88.

Tottenham: Cerny, Tainio (Defoe 81), Dawson, Huddlestone,Lee (Gunter 59), Lennon (Boateng 72), O'Hara, Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Kaboul.

Sent Off: Dawson (68).

Goals: Keane 24.

Att: 75,369

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).