Five-goal Madrid end Nicosia’s fairytale run

Real Madrid coasted past APOEL Nicosia 5-2 last night to set-up a Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich.

Thu, 05 Apr, 2012 - 01:00

Real Madrid 5 APOEL Nicosia 2 (Real win 8-2 on aggregate)

Already leading 3-0 from the first-leg the hosts started brightly but had to wait until the 25th minute to open the scoring as Cristiano Ronaldo tapped home Marcelo’s cross at the back post.

Kaka doubled Real’s lead with a stunning effort from outside the area nine minutes before half-time, but the goal of the night was arguably scored by Gustavo Manduca as he pulled one back for the visitors after a flowing team move midway through the second-half.

Ronaldo soon restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage and substitutes Jose Maria Callejon and Angel Di Maria added further goals either side of Esteban Solari’s 82nd-minute penalty for the visitors.

REAL MADRID: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo (Callejon 46), Sahin, Granero (Albiol 65), Altintop, Kaka, Ronaldo, Higuain (Di Maria 54).

APOEL NICOSIA: Urko, Poursaitides, Paulo Jorge, Kaka, Boaventura, Morais, Pinto (Satsias 78), Charalambidis, Marcinho, Manduca (Adorno 68), Almeida (Solari 69).

Ref: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy).