Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal against Galatasaray during their Champions League quarter-final second leg match in Istanbul, yesterday. RIGHT: Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski (right) in action against Malaga’s Jeremy Toulalan during the Champions League quarter final second leg match in Dortmund, Germany, yesterday.
ISTANBUL: Real Madrid withstood a second-half onslaught from Galatasaray to qualify for their third successive Champions League semi-final 5-3 on aggregate, despite losing 3-2 on the night.
Already leading 3-0 from the first-leg last week, it took Los Blancos just eight minutes to build on their advantage as Sami Khedira crossed for Cristiano Ronaldo to prod home from close range.
However, after Ronaldo had missed a guilt edged opportunity to double his tally on the night, Galatasaray produced a remarkable comeback as Emmanuel Eboue thumped in an equaliser from the edge of the box.
Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba then added two goals in a minute to ensure a nervy final 18 minutes for Madrid.
Alvaro Arbeloa saw two quick-fire yellow cards a minute from time to ensure he will miss the first-leg of the semi-final, before Ronaldo sealed Madrid’s path into the last four with another sweet strike in stoppage time.
Madrid had been warned about the wall of noise they would face in Istanbul but just like in the first leg, they started in perfect fashion.
Angel di Maria ought to have done better when his shot towards an open goal was deflected wide after Fernando Muslera had scampered from his line to deny Gonzalo Higuain just three minutes in.
However, the visitors continued to take the game to Galatasaray in the early stages and reaped their reward just five minutes later.
Mesut Ozil was once more the creator for the Spanish champions as he slipped Khedira through on the right side of the area and his driven cross was turned in by Ronaldo for his 10th goal in just 10 Champions League appearances this season.
The hosts created hardly anything of note going forward in the first-half, but Sneijder did test Diego Lopez’s handling with a powerful drive from the edge of the area after Madrid had switched off from a short corner seven minutes before half-time.
However, the momentum of the game swung in two incidents within 60 seconds of one another just before the hour mark.
Firstly, Ronaldo uncharacteristically scuffed wide with the goal at his mercy before Eboue sent a rocket of a shot into the top corner from Sneijder’s cut-back.
Sneijder then missed a glorious chance to put the home side in front as he side-footed Fabio Coentrao’s misplaced clearance wide.
The Dutch international made no mistake with his next opportunity though as he skipped past Raphael Varane and slotted confidently past Diego Lopez with 19 minutes to go.
And a minute later the tie was truly back in the balance as Drogba brilliantly backheeled Nourredine Amrabat’s cross into the far corner. Arbeloa was then stupidly dismissed for two yellow cards in barely a minute as he first brought down Sneijder then saw a second booking for arguing with the referee. But Madrid’s fears were eased in stoppage time when Karim Benzema pulled the ball back for Ronaldo to drill home and cap an incredible evening’s entertainment.
In Dortmund, Borussia Dortmund struck twice in stoppage time to beat Malaga 3-2 and reach the Champions League semi-finals in dramatic fashion yesterday.
Malaga appeared to be heading into last four in their debut season in the Champions League but their dreams were dashed when stoppage time goals from Marco Reus and Felipe Santana sent the Germans through in a stunning encounter.
The Spaniards, who drew 0-0 in the first leg, stunned the 66,000 crowd in Dortmund when Joaquin shook off his markers and drilled in a low shot for the lead in the 25th minute.
Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski drew the hosts level in the 40th minute and they squandered a string of chances in the second half with Marco Reus and Mario Goetze.
Eliseu appeared to seal Dortmund’s fate when he put the Spaniards ahead in the 82nd minute, but Reus and Santana scored late in the game to spark wild celebrations among the home fans.Agencies
