Sunday News (Zimbabwe)

Ronaldo scores 43rd career hat-trick

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CRISTIANO RONALDO helped him himself to 43rd career hat-trick as Real MadridM came back from an early goal down to defeatd Alaves 4-1 at Estadio de Mendizorro­zaMe on Saturday.S An early strike from D Deyverson put the home side ahead after just seven minu minutes, but Cristiano tiano Ronaldo madem no mistaken taken from the penaltype spot to equalise just 10 m minutes later. A fine strike fr from Ronaldo put Los Blancos ahead just past the half-hourhalf-hou mark, and Alvaro Morata secured the points late on, bef before Ronaldo completed his hatclosing hat-trick in the closing stages. The first goal ofo the game arrived as early as the seventh minute, and it came for the home side courtesy of Brazilian forward Deyverson, who latched onto a square ball from on-loan Atletico Madrid left-back Theo Hernández.

But Los Blancos took just 10 minutes to level the scores, with Cristiano Ronaldo sending goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco the wrong way from the penalty spot and tucking it into the bottom right corner. This was after goalscorer Deyverson raised his elbow to deflect Gareth Bale’s free-kick away from goal.

Madrid had the lead after 33 minutes, and it was that man Ronaldo at it again. The Portugal internatio­nal collected the ball wide left before cutting inside and firing a blistering, dipping effort from outside the box and straight into the far corner.

After the first half winded down, Alaves came out for the second period and almost equalised just three minutes after the restart when Víctor Camarasa dribbled his way into the area, but Navas was able to pull off a fine save to deny him.

Madrid put the result beyond doubt in the 84th minute when Alvaro Morata latched onto a long ball forward from Marcelo and lobbed Pacheco.

And there was still time for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick, exchanging passes with Marcelo to work his way into the box before firing home his third of the evening. — KickOff

 ??  ?? Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

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