Football: Ronaldo knocks out Man Utd after Nani sees red
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos-
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) is challenged by Manchester United's Brazilian defender Rafael (right) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Fans hold a banner that reads "Welcome home Ronny, Viva Ronaldo!" before the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) reacts after scoring his team's second goal as with Real Madrid's German midfielder Sami Khedira (right) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring his team's second goal during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Manchester United's Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic (floor) lies injured after colliding with Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez as Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Manchester United's English striker Danny Welbeck (centre) look on during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Manchester United's Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic (right) blocks a shot from Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Real Madrid's Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain (centre) celebrates setting up his team's second goal for Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (not in picture) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) is challenged by Manchester United's Brazilian defender Rafael (right) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Fans hold a banner that reads "Welcome home Ronny, Viva Ronaldo!" before the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) reacts after scoring his team's second goal as with Real Madrid's German midfielder Sami Khedira (right) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). -- PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring his team's second goal during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). -- PHOTO: AFP
Manchester United's Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic (floor) lies injured after colliding with Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez as Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Manchester United's English striker Danny Welbeck (centre) look on during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Manchester United's Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic (right) blocks a shot from Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). -- PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid's Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain (centre) celebrates setting up his team's second goal for Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (not in picture) during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 5, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Former Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Real Madrid knocked out a Manchester United side controversially reduced to 10 men in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Ronaldo secured a 2-1 win for Real and a 3-2 aggregate success after the match completely changed when United winger Nani was sent off for a clumsy, but not deliberate, high challenge on Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa in the 56th minute.
The red card came as a total surprise and was the start of a terrible 13-minute spell that doomed the home side to defeat as Real, trailing 1-0, struck twice in three minutes through Luka Modric and Ronaldo to seal Real's place in the last eight.
Substitute Modric, only been on the field for seven minutes, lashed in Real's equaliser from 20 metres after 66 minutes and Ronaldo slid in at the far post three minutes later to turn in a cross from Gonzalo Higuain and seal Real's place in the last eight.
