Cristiano Ronaldo scored a superb hat-trick as Real Madrid overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Wolfsburg to reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Advertisement
Madrid was trailing by two goals after a shocking defeat to Wolfsburg in Germany which surprised many and Madrid needed at least 3 goals to go through.
The Madrid giants pushed throughout the 90 minutes and pulled back level thanks to an early brace by Ronaldo before the break.
With 15 minutes to play, and the tie on the way to extra-time, and a possible penalty shoot-out, Ronaldo had a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Hecking said “We have been unlucky because the last two goals have been set-pieces and we should have defended better”. We need him, he gives everything for the badge, has been showing for a long time that he is number one.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid (7) celebrates with team mates as he scores their second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg match between Real Madrid CF and VfL Wolfsburg at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.
Dani Carvajal made a lung-busting run to get to a loose ball and sent in a low cross that seemed to deflect off Arnold and into the path of Ronaldo at the far port. The Portuguese forward simply had to tap the ball into the back of the net to spark the comeback.
However, there was no stopping the three-time World Player of the Year from the resulting corner as his downward header found the bottom corner of the net.
Yet, the Germans still managed to grow into the game as the opening 45 minutes wore on. The second goal came with a through ball from the left, Ronaldo latched onto it and slotted it home but it was his hat-trick goal that got him fired up, sparking off wild celebrations near the corner flag.
There is no bigger name in Madrid than Ronaldo and he firmly established that yet again. A minute later he headed in a goal deftly from the right hand corner to make it 2 – 0.
Karim Benzema could have scored Madrid’s third just before halftime but the France striker wasn’t able to get a shot away after receiving a pass from Carvajal in front of the goal.
Advertisement
It was Ronaldo’s 40th career hat trick, and the sixth this season.
