REF OLIVER IN RED RIOT
Buffon sent off as last-gasp penalty puts Madrid through
IT’S not often a dramatic finale involving Real Madrid sees Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged.
Young English referee Michael Oliver, 33, awarded a 90th-minute penalty in the Champions League quarter-final and sent off 40-year-old legendary Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for protesting.
Ronaldo then scored from the spot as Real, who were trailing 3-0 on the night, claimed the decisive goal to win 4-3 on aggregate.
CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s stoppagetime penalty rescued Real Madrid in another dramatic Champions League quarter-final last night.
Juventus were on the verge of extra-time at the Bernabeu after wiping out Real’s 3-0 first-leg lead in the space of an hour.
But with seconds remaining, Juve buckled. Mehdi Benatia brought down Lucas Vazquez to concede the penalty and Gianluigi Buffon was sent off by English referee Michael Oliver for his furious reaction. It was a tumultuous end to Buffon’s last ever Champions League match.
That left former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny to face Ronaldo, who showed no fear in his 150th Champions League game, firing the ball into the top corner.
It was a stunning finale, especially considering what came before it. Real were so rattled at the start they could have been 3-0 down after seven minutes.
Fortunately for Real, it was only one. Douglas Costa combined with Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic scored at the back post in the second minute.
Gonzalo Higuain then had a shot blocked by Jesus Vallejo and a second effort from close range saved by Keylor Navas.
Gareth Bale had a shot saved by Buffon and back-heeled the rebound wide. Isco then had a goal ruled out for offside.
Anarchy began to reign and Madrid, with Isco the conductor, were enjoying the chaos. Ronaldo nutmegged Mattia De Sciglio inside the first 30 seconds, but was flattened when he tried the same on Medhi Benatia.
Stephan Lichtsteiner was the next to foul the Portuguese. The substitute had come on for De GETTY IMAGES Sciglio and Ronaldo lost his boot in the clash. Lichtsteiner was proving a liability at the back but on 38 minutes, he showed his worth at the other end. It was his cross that set up the second goal, Mandzukic again converting.
Buffon jumped up and down in his area to celebrate and raised a fist to Juventus supporters as he walked off at half-time.
Zinedine Zidane had seen enough and sent Vazquez and Marco Asensio to warm-up at half time.
The substitutions were made and the axe fell on Bale. Casemiro was also taken off as Madrid tried to turn the tide, but the changes did not immediately pay off.
On the hour, Juventus were level. Navas failed to gather and Blaise Matuidi turned the ball over the line.
Again no one celebrated the goal with more crazed delight than Buffon. The 40-year-old has said he will retire at the end of the season, but he and Juventus were not going quietly.
He was doing his bit with the gloves, too. Marcelo fed Isco and the midfielder’s shot looked destined for the far corner but perhaps the greatest goalkeeper to never win the Champions League sprang to his right to turn the ball round the post.
Madrid now knew that another Juventus goal would leave them needing two. It was a dilemma and Zidane brought Mateo Kovacic on to try to keep hold of the ball better in midfield.
The home fans had not come for a night of drama. This was supposed to be procession into the semi-final and the chance to laugh together at Barcelona’s fate the night before.
Drama, however, is what they got. Whatever Roma had taken the 24 hours before, Juventus had enjoyed a big dose of it and Real feared they would finish the job.
Ronaldo went close with five minutes left. Isco and Dani Carvajal combined and Ronaldo had the chance to settle it but he put the opportunity over.
Madrid were now camped in Juventus’ half and Ronaldo went down more in hope than expectation of getting anything. Juventus had spent the first half betraying their tradition by flying forward with abandon but as the clock ticked down they had now reverted to type and it seemed there was no way through the massed yellow ranks for Real Madrid.
But a moment of madness from Benatia and a moment of class from Ronaldo saved Real Madrid.
REAL MADRID: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Vallejo, Marcelo, Casemiro (Vazquez 45), Modric ( (Kovacic 75), Kroos, Isco, Ronaldo, Bale (Asensio 45).
JUVENTUS: Buffon, De Sciglio (Lichsteiner 17), Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi, Douglas Costa, Higuain (Szczesny 90+6) Mandzukic.
Referee: Michael Oliver (England).