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January 11, 2013

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Ronaldo's trick fires Real into quarters


CRISTIANO Ronaldo steered Real Madrid into the Copa de Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday by scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win against Celta Vigo after Sergio Ramos had been sent off.

Madrid qualified 5-2 on aggregate, but it was Ronaldo's third goal in the 87th minute at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the second leg that put the result of the last-16 match beyond doubt.

It was Ronaldo's third hat-trick this season and the 18th of his Madrid career, but his opening goal in the third minute was the pick of the three. The unmarked Portugal forward struck a powerful, swerving shot from distance that gave goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez no chance, with the ball nestling inside the far side-netting.

"The team wasn't comfortable and that first goal that Cristiano hit like something else left even me applauding," Celta coach Paco Herrera said.

Ronaldo made it 2-0 when he raced through the middle, beating the offside trap to latch onto a chipped pass from midfielder Luka Modric and divert the ball into the net in the 24th.

Ronaldo completed his hat-trick on a counterattack, finishing adroitly after combining with Gonzalo Higuain. The Bernabeu erupted with chants of "Ballon d'Or," a reference to the title Lionel Messi won for the fourth time.

Fans cheered the selection of goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, who was in the starting line-up for the first time after three matches after having been contentiously dropped.

Earlier, Sevilla also advanced by winning 6-2 on aggregate against Mallorca.



 

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