Late Cristiano Ronaldo penalty puts Real Madrid into Champions League semifinals

Cristiano Ronaldo converted an injury-time penalty to prevent Juventus from pulling off another stunning comeback in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. (AP)
  • Cristiano Ronaldo's late penalty breaks Juventus hearts
  • Madrid join Liverpool, Bayern Munich and AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League semifinals

Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo converted an injury-time penalty to prevent Juventus from pulling off another stunning comeback in the quarterfinals of the Champions League as Real Madrid advanced despite a 3-1 home loss on Wednesday.
The goal was enough to clinch a 4-3 aggregate win for Madrid, the two-time defending champions.
A day after seeing Spanish rivals Barcelona blow a three-goal advantage against Roma in Italy, Madrid nearly did the same. But Juventus’ heroics came up just short after substitute Lucas Vazquez was pushed from behind inside the area deep into stoppage time.
Gianluigi Buffon, in what was likely his last Champions League game, was then sent off for complaining after the penalty decision.
Madrid won the first leg 3-0 in Turin last week, when Ronaldo scored with a spectacular bicycle kick for his second goal of the match.
Juventus got off to the perfect start on Wednesday when Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring with a header two minutes into the match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
He added to the lead with another header before halftime, and Blaise Matuidi scored the third early in the second half after a blunder by Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.