Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to celebrate against Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return to Old Trafford as Real Madrid dumped 10-man Manchester United out of the Champions League with a 1-2 (2-3 on aggregate) win in Manchester. After a goalless first half in which Nemanja Vidic hit the post and strikers Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck forced Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego López into a fine double save, the game came to life when Sergio Ramos put through his own net three minutes into the second half.
However, the turning point came when Portuguese winger Nani, instrumental in the goal, was controversially sent off by Turkish referee Cüneyt Çak?r for a high boot on Álvaro Arbeloa.
Luka Modric equalised for the visitors with a stunning effort, before Ronaldo scored what proved to be the winner two minutes later.
Manchester United began the game with England striker Wayne Rooney on the bench and Van Persie leading a three-pronged attack with Welbeck and Nani.
Cristiano Ronaldo started on the left side of midfield on his return to Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho opting for Gonzalo Higuaín instead of Karim Benzema as main striker, and Angel Di Maria on the right side.
Both teams started the game in a cagey manner, with the returning Ronaldo showing some nervy touches and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea Cagey wayward in his kicking.
It was the visitors who mustered the first effort in the 10th minute when Mesut Ozil found Higuain on the edge of the box, he skipped a few challenges before firing an effort wide of De Gea's left-hand post.
The neat move brought United into action, who forced their first corner in the 12th minute, and then two minutes later Ryan Giggs, playing his 1000th game for the club crossed for Van Persie whose tame effort was blocked by Sergio Ramos.
After Patrice Evra picked up the first booking of the game in the 17th minute for bringing down Di Maria, the home side carved out the best chance of the game. Giggs showed his experience in winning a corner and Nani's delivery from the right was met with a thundering header by Vidic. The ball came back off the post and hit Welbeck before fortunately landing in the arms of Lopez on the line.
Real Madrid enjoyed a spell of possession but failed to create anything meaningful, and de Gea made sure his distribution waseffective for United to begin their counter-attacks.
In the 34th minute, United almost opened the scoring once again. The lively Van Persie held the ball up on the left-side of the box, before turning his marker to fire a dipping effort towards goal. The shot was parried out by Lopez into the path of the oncoming Welbeck, but Englishman failed to convert after seeing his snap shot superbly deflected out by the Spaniard for a corner.
Towards the end of the half, United had a penalty appeal turned down by Çak?r when Rafael da Silva was upended in the box by Sergio Ramos.
Real made one change at half-time with the injured Di Maria coming off for Brazilian midfielder Kaka.
Alex Ferguson's men began the second half with much of the same attacking intent, and they got their reward just three minutes after the break. A flowing move involved Van Persie and Welbeck saw the former's effort blocked in the box. Real cleared the ball to Nani on the left-side of the box, and his low ball took a deflection off Welbeck, before Ramos inadvertently turned it into his own net past a hapless Lopez.
The goal brought Real out of their shell and Spanish team began asking more questions of home side's defence. A succession of corners were followed by a swerving cross from Higuain, but the ball was missed by everyone.
In the 56th minute, referee Çak?r stunned the Old Trafford faithful when he showed Nani a straight red card for a high boot on Álvaro Arbeloa. Ferguson, sitting in the stands reacted furiously and there were loud boos from the crowd. Replays showed the winger only had eyes for the ball
All of a sudden, Real came to life and began taking control. The quiet Ronaldo came to life and orchestrated several key Madrid attacks. Jose Mourinho brought Luka Modric on for Alvaro Arbeloa as the Spanish giants pushed forward the away goal.
At the other end, Van Persie's low effort was well held by Lopez, but crucially gave United defenders a much-needed breather.
However, Real's constant pressure paid off in the 66th minute when substitute Modric thumped a cracking drive past de Gea, after linking up with Ronaldo. Old Trafford was silenced, and the visitors had their away goal against 10-men.
Minutes later it was 1-2 (2-3) to Madrid when former United star Ronaldo got his goal at Old Trafford. The Portuguese star slid in at the back post to slot home Higuain's cross to complete the comeback. Once again, the 29-year old refused to celebrate as the away fans in the stands when ecstatic.
In the 73rd minute, Ferguson turned to Wayne Rooney on the bench, bringing him on for Tom Cleverly - as United looked to save their Champions League campaign, knowing that they needed two goals.
United harried their opponents but failed to break through, and Ferguson carried out his final throw of the dice bringing paceman Ashley Young on for Welbeck in the 80th minute.
Lopez saved Michael Carrick's header and Van Persie's shot, before Rooney fired over from inside the six-yard box.
In five minutes of added time, Ronaldo was denied by a point-blank save from de Gea, as Lopez pulled off another superb save to deny Vidic.
At full time, there were more loud boos for referee Çak?r, as Jose Mourinho walked off the pitch knowing the job had been.