What a spectacular show of football it was
tonight at Turk Telekom Arena! Los Blancos played their 2nd
leg against Galatasaray in an away match to a 3-2 loss. In spite of the loss, the men pull through
thanks to the aggregate... and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese all-star scored both of
Madrid's goals tonight, most notably at the very last second, dashing the home
team's dreams of Champions League semifinals.
RM certainly was the better team in the first
half, in spite of Galatasaray's dominance in possession. Cristiano drew first blood at the 8' minute
mark, with a right-footed shot from close range to the bottom left corner. At his assist was Sami Khedira, with a cross
following a corner. Captain of the
evening, Gonzalo "Pipita" Higuain had his chances throughout the
half, but was either caught offside or had his shot saved.
Most were quick to say Real Madrid would
coast easily into the semifinals when pitted against Galatasaray. But this Madridista could only look back on
the brief history of meetups we've had against the Turkish team with the
slightest anxiety. They have beaten us before... And it was due
to the underestimation, on fans and perhaps coaching staff alike, that
Galatasaray throttled los Blancos in
the second half.
As both teams returned on pitch, spectators
were privy to Galatasaray's comeback.
Wesley Sneijder, who had his own chances throughout the first 45, created
a lot of trouble for us in the first few returning minutes, winning a free kick
at the 50'. Nothing came of it, but it
wouldn't be until the 57' and thereon after that the Turkish team made sure to
make their presence and name known to the world.
Emmanuel Eboue equalized things, with a
right-footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner, Sneijder at the
assist. Diego Lopez, who had done well
to deflect and save everything the home team had to offer in the first, could
do nothing to save Eboue's attack.
Galatasaray looked alive, while Madrid looked lackluster. Shot after shot, I'm certain gasps of fear
escaped the mouths of many a Madridista as the Turkish side lay siege. Would they pull ahead? Would they score? Could
we really not go through?
Fears were definitely heightened at the 71'
mark when Sneijder scored, allowing for Galatasaray to pull ahead 2-1. The Dutch international scored with a
right-footed shot from center of box to the bottom left corner. Madrid did not have time to wrap their heads
around the fact that little Turkish train that could – and in fact did – scored
another at the 72' mark. Didier Drogba
scored the third and final goal for Galatasaray, with a right-footed shot from
center of box to the bottom left corner, Nourredine Amrabat at the assist with
a cross. 3-1, 3-1, I thought to myself,
one more and bye-bye CL semifinals.
Panic.
Sheer. Panic. Madrid would have to hold and fend off
Galatasaray, which lead to Mesut Ozil's substitution. Raul "Chori" Albiol, who we hardly
see these days following his injury, made his way on pitch, indicating that
Madrid's strategy now was to defend.
Defend they did, which also earned Alvaro Arbeloa's second yellow – a forced
yellow and absence in the 1st leg of the semifinal. Panic.
Sheer. Panic.
Galatasaray certainly wanted to go through,
with two back-to-back attempts during stoppage time. But thankfully, Cristiano Ronaldo saved the
day for los Blancos. The forward dashed dreams at the very last
minute, with a right-footed shot from center of box to the bottom right corner,
Karim Benzema – who had come on as Pipita's substitute – at the assist. It certainly made up for that blunder
earlier...
In spite of the 3-2 loss tonight, Real Madrid
goes through to the semifinals on aggregate.
Congratulations, men, and game well played, Galatasaray.
Los
Blancos
play Bilbao in La Liga, Sunday, April
14th, at San Mames up next.
Until then, keep calm and Hala
Madrid!
written
by Gail Hidalgo
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