Hernandez goal puts Real Madrid into Champions League semis

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) serves teammate Chicharito (left) to score the game's only goal past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak during the second leg quarterfinal Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Santia
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) serves teammate Chicharito (left) to score the game's only goal past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak during the second leg quarterfinal Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Santia
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AP, Madrid :A late goal by Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez gave Real Madrid a tense 1-0 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid and a place in the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday.After the first leg of their quarterfinal had finished 0-0 last week, Hernandez missed three good chances to break the deadlock for the cup holders before finding the net in the 88th minute from close range following a pass by Cristiano Ronaldo.By then, Atletico was down to 10 men after midfielder Arda Turan was sent off for a second yellow card following a rash challenge on Madrid’s Sergio Ramos in the 76th minute.As in the first leg of the derby between last season’s finalists, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak kept his team in the tie by saving a series of shots on goal by Madrid’s forwards.In the night’s other match, Juventus drew 0-0 at Monaco to reach the semifinals with a 1-0 victory on aggregate.The win took pressure off Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had been criticized for his side’s failure to beat Atletico in all seven of their previous meetings since last season’s Champions League final in Portugal.”I had wanted a match like this, searching out for offensive solutions without the need for haste, avoiding problems on the counterattack or from set pieces,” Ancelotti said. “In this sense, the team worked well, it controlled the match.”The coach praised Hernandez’s performances, saying the Mexico forward had played with great commitment.”He was up for it because I think he’s suffered a lot this season as he’s played very little, and in the end his goal has been very important for us. He never gave up.”It was a particularly welcome strike for Hernandez, who highlighted the work done by Ronaldo.”Every goal I score is huge for me. It was a great pass from Cristiano,” said the striker, who dedicated the goal to his teammates “and all those who believed in me.”Madrid began at the Santiago Bernabeu with four changes to its side from last week’s first leg.

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