Madrid voyage becomes pipe dream for CSKA in Champions League

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Published time: March 15, 2012 00:04
Edited time: March 15, 2012 04:11

Russia lost its last representative in the European football clubs competitions after CSKA Moscow were overridden by Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in the battle for the Champions League quarterfinals.

Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Madrid took an early lead courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain, who scored a game-opener in a 26th minute. Sami Khedira made a brilliant no-look cross to Kaka, who assisted the Argentine.

CSKA keeper Sergey Chepchugov gifted Madrid the second goal when he fumbled Ronaldo's long-range shot early in the second half.

Benzema sent home the rebound from his own shot in the 70th, only for Zoran Tosic to score from long range seven minutes later.

Cristiano Ronaldo ensured a 5-2 aggregate victory in the last move of the game.

“You have to play a near perfect game against them – they punishe you for any errors,'' was how CSKA coach Leonid Slutski summed up the game through a translator.

“If only we would have made less errors, then we might have had a chance to surprise.''

“We played a mature match. It wasn't anything out of this world,'' Real helmsman Jose Mourinho gave his vision afterwards. “We're in the quarterfinals, which is the most important thing.''

Later in the evening, Chelsea came from two behind on aggregate against Napoli to rush into the Champions League quarterfinals. They snatched a thrilling match 4-1 after extra time on Wednesday to maintain England's interest in the competition.

Chelsea’s Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic stopped the clock at the 105th minute of an end-to-end second leg at Stamford Bridge, sealing a 5-4 aggregate victory over the Italian side.