True champion: Ronaldo helps Madrid make history
Cristiano Ronaldo capped his greatest year by helping Real Madrid become the first Champions League holder to retain its title, showcasing his lethal scoring qualities in a 4-1 victory over Juventus on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.
In an exceptional career in which he keeps rewriting the record books, Ronaldo scored twice in Cardiff to become the first player in the 25 seasons of the Champions League era to score in three finals.
Madrid’s attacking brilliance proved just too hard for Juventus to contain as Zinedine Zidane won his second Champions League title in 18 months as manager.
“Zidane believes in us a lot,” Ronaldo said. “He knows that we are a very good team, and that is why we proved it in the second half.”
Having lifted the European Cup once with Manchester United, Ronaldo has done it three times in four seasons with Madrid. It’s the latest piece of silverware in an incredible 12 months for the world player of the year.
It began with Ronaldo winning his first title with Portugal at the European Championship. Then came the Club World Cup with Real Madrid, then the end of a five-year Spanish title drought before new highs were reached in the Champions League.
Ronaldo’s first strike at Millennium Stadium was canceled out by Mario Mandzukic’s exquisite 27th-minute hook shot.
After Casemiro put the Spanish champions back in front in the 61st, Ronaldo turned in his 600th career goal at the near post three minutes later, and Marco Asensio wrapped up a record 12th title in the 90th. U.S. 1, Venezuela 1: Christian Pulisic scored early in the second half, defender John Brooks limped off with a leg injury and the United States struggled at the start of a 1-1 exhibition tie against Venezuela in Sandy, Utah, in a tuneup for this week’s World Cup qualifying. SF Deltas 2, Indy Eleven 2: Cristian Portilla scored directly off a corner kick, and Devon Sandoval’s header was the equalizer three minutes into stoppage time in an NASL game at Kezar Stadium.
MLS highlights: Juan Agudelo had a goal and an assist, Benjamin Angoua added his first career MLS goal and the host New England Revolution beat the MLS’ best team, Toronto FC, 3-0. New England (5-5-5) snapped the eight-game unbeaten streak of Toronto (8-2-5). ... Ike Opara, Jimmy Medranda and Saad AbdulSalaam scored their first goals of the season, Tim Melia had his eighth shutout and host Sporting Kansas City moved back into first place in the Western Conference with a 3-0 win over Minnesota United . ... Roland Lamah had his first career MLS hat trick 31 minutes in and FC Dallas became the first team to score five goals in the first half of an MLS game, going on to beat visiting Real Salt Lake 6-2.