May 5, 2008 5:34 PM

SOURCE:
uefa.com

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Ronaldo hot streak burns off pack

Manchester United FC forward Cristiano Ronaldo took a giant stride towards winning the ESM Golden Shoe by scoring two more goals against West Ham United FC on Saturday. The Portuguese international struck twice in the opening 24 minutes at Old Trafford to set up a 4-1 victory that moved Sir Alex Ferguson's team to within touching distance of the Premier League title.

'I'm confident'
With his closest challenger Klaas Jan Huntelaar out of contention having already completed the season with AFC Ajax, and neither Emmanuel Adebayor nor Luis Fabiano registering at the weekend, Ronaldo appears certain to add another personal award to his Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year accolade. "It is wonderful to score so many times," said the 23-year-old, who can equal the Premier League record of 31 held by Alan Shearer by scoring once in the final game at Wigan Athletic FC next Sunday. "I have to thank my team-mates as they give me great passes. If they give me an opportunity, I'm confident I can score."

Güiza double
RCD Mallorca striker Daniel Güiza has an outside chance of pipping Ronaldo after the 27-year-old climbed to fourth in the rankings with a double against Athletic Club Bilbao, leaving him six goals shy of the leader with three Primera División matches remaining. Liverpool FC's Fernando Torres joins his fellow Spaniard in the top six after notching his 23rd goal of the campaign to clinch a 1-0 win over Manchester City FC, while Roque Santa Cruz took his tally to 19 with a brace for Blackburn Rovers against Derby County FC.