Ronaldo knocks out United after Nani sees red

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.

“Independent of the decision, the best team lost,” Real coach Jose Mourinho told ITV. “We didn’t play well, we didn’t deserve to win, but football is like this.

“I am not sure about the decision, but independent of that, the best team lost.”

Mourinho told Spanish television TVE he was disappointed by the performance. “I am happy that we are through but I expected more from my team,” he said. “When your goalkeeper is the best player on the pitch and you are playing against 10 men then that shows you are not controlling the match as you should.

“But you have to know how to suffer and how to win under those circumstances.”

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was too upset to speak to the press. “I don’t think the manager is any fit state to talk to the referee. It speaks volumes I am sitting here now not the manager,” assistant manager Mile Phelan said. “It’s a very distraught dressing room and a very distraught manager. That’s why I am sitting here now.”