Real Madrid have reached
the Champions League semifinals for the third straight season on Tuesday
despite losing 3-2 following a second-half revival of
Galatasaray by scoring 3 goals. This will be Madrid's 24th semifinal appearance
in Europe's top-tier club competition, although the team has been eliminated at
that stage the past two years.
Madrid’s Ronaldo
looked to have wrapped up the quarterfinal series by scoring in the seventh
minute for a 4-0 overall lead, requiring Galatasaray to score at least five
goals to advance. The Portugal forward scored his second of the match in
stoppage time for his 48th goal of the season, which includes a Real Madrid
record of 11 in the Champions League.
Madrid completely
dominated the match until Eboue's 57th minute equalizer, which
awakened Galatasaray's attack and was the start of a 16 minute span in which
Galatasaray scored 3 goals transforming the match from a mild stroll to a
frantic contest largely played in Madrid's last third. Forward Wesley Sneijder
scored in the 71st, before Didier Drogba added another goal a minute later.
Madrid is feared
for its deadly pace and firepower on the break, but its opening goal was a
product of a passing combination, as Ronaldo slipped along the six yard box to
redirect Sami Khedira's cross into the far side of the net with his right foot
after Mesut Oezil had played his fellow Germany midfielder clear on the side.
Eboue equalized
with a blast from the edge of the area into the top corner of the net following
a pass by Sneijder. Sneijder not done
there made another beautiful touch to tap a pass beyond Raphael Varane,
rounding the defender before slotting the ball home. Drogba expertly flicked in
Nordin Amrabat's low cross with the back of his right heel while facing away
from goal and fending off Varane to send the home fans wild.
Ronaldo polished
off his team's qualification to the next round three minutes into injury time
by converting substitute Karim Benzema's pass. That goal sealed the match for
Real Madrid and its places into the semifinals with a 3-2 loss to Galatasaray
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