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Last-gasp Ronaldo penalty takes Real into semis

 

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo

Madrid, Spain | AFP |  Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 97th-minute penalty to take Real Madrid through to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, denying Juventus after a remarkable comeback by the Italian side.

Ronaldo smashed home the decisive spot-kick at the death, after a furious Gianluigi Buffon was sent off for protesting the penalty award, as Real lost the quarter-final second leg 3-1 but won the tie 4-3 on aggregate.

The tie had been heading for extra time as Mario Mandzukic’s first-half brace and a Blaise Matuidi goal put Juve 3-0 up on the night, levelling the tie after Madrid’s 3-0 victory in Italy last week.

In Munich, Bayern Munich reached the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in nine seasons as Wednesday’s goalless draw at home to Sevilla sent the German side through 2-1 on aggregate.

Mats Hummels flashed a powerful drive just wide and Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria turned away a stinging effort from Franck Ribery in the first half, while Bayern full-back Rafinha made a vital block to deny Pablo Sarabia.

Joaquin Correa came closest to scoring at the Allianz Arena when the Argentine winger headed against the crossbar on 59 minutes, but Jupp Heynckes’s Bayern remain in the hunt for a sixth European title.

Bayern will be joined in Friday’s draw for the last four by Liverpool, Roma and defending champions Real Madrid who overcame Juventus 4-3 on aggregate courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo.

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