Cristiano Ronaldo stayed calm, Real Madrid lead on

Cristiano Ronaldo stayed calm, Real Madrid lead on. It was, often, amazing. After all, this was Ronaldo’s first activity at Old Trafford since he remaining U. s., and his objective with about 20 moments staying provided Real Madrid 2-1 cause on the evening, a 3-2 combination cause in the two-game sequence and basically properly secured its passing to the Winners Group quarterfinals. If ever there was a scenario to enjoy, this would seem to be it.

But Ronaldo remained relaxed, as if not seeking to rub it in on his former group. And on the part time, his administrator, José Mourinho, who memorably sprinted along the touchline after his group obtained an essential objective here nine decades ago, remained under management, too. For both, the reticence seemed a tacit recommendation of the unusual and controversial conditions that led to Actual Madrid’s success.


Even Ronaldo recognized that he was not the tale of the evening. Neither was U. s. Administrator Alex Ferguson, who amazingly remaining one of his top scorers, John Rooney, out of the beginning collection. Instead, it was Cuneyt Cakir, a Turkish umpire, who taken the highlight in this fiercely expected Circular of 16 fight with a stunning choice to deliver off Birmingham U. s. midfielder Nani in the 56th moment. The choice remaining U. s. to perform the ultimate half-hour with only 10 men.

Afterward, Ferguson was so infuriated that he sent his associate, Scott Phelan, to fulfill with associates of the press. Phelan giggled when requested if Ferguson had requested Cakir for an description. “I do not think the manager is in any condition to talk with the formal,” Phelan said with a wan grin, including that Ferguson was disrupted because he and the U. s. gamers believed they had performed a near-perfect activity logically before the red cards.

Mourinho, discussing seriously, decided. “In my viewpoint, the best group missing,” he said basically, applauding United’s perform and demeaning his gamers for not replying until delayed in the go with. Without the red cards, U. s. might well have won, Mourinho said.


Two years ago, Mourinho and Real Madrid were victimized by a similarly disputed red card when Pepe was sent off in a Champions League semifinal against Barcelona. This decision was equally harsh, Mourinho said, and he acknowledged that Cakir could have given Nani only a yellow card after he lunged in with his foot waist-high in an effort to play the ball away from Álvaro Arbeloa.

After the collision, both players rolled on the ground in apparent pain and Cakir reached for his pocket as he waited for Nani to get up. At that point, it seemed a yellow was coming.

But as United’s trainers helped Nani to his feet, Cakir showed a red. Nani stopped short, staring at the official, who is highly regarded by the European association and worked a semifinal at last year’s European Championships. A group of United players sprinted at Cakir, screaming in anger. Ferguson stormed down to the field from his seat on the bench, shouting and pointing.

Replays showed there was significant contact between Nani’s foot and Arbeloa, but by rule, Cakir had to determine that Nani had endangered the safety of his opponent with the challenge. Simply being reckless should have brought a yellow, which was United’s argument.