Real Madrid dump Manchester United out of Champs Lge, Essien sits out

Posted On Tuesday, 5th March 2013

Essien

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien was not even on the bench as his Real Madrid side dump 10-man Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford to dump his former club out of the competition with the Spanish side triumphing 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

The second leg of the last-16 encounter turned firmly in the favour of the side from Spain the moment referee Cuneyt Cakir brandished a shock red card to Nani in the 56th minute following the winger’s clumsy, but not malicious, high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa.

United had edged ahead on aggregate shortly after the interval as Sergio Ramos could only divert Nani’s drilled low cross into his own net after it had flicked off the foot of Danny Welbeck, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in the ascendency at that point.

But Nani’s dismissal sparked a spell of Real pressure which United could not withstand, as substitute Luka Modric, sent on for Arbeloa, curled home a delicious strike from the edge of the box in the 66th minute.

And, somewhat inevitably, it was former Manchester United favourite Ronaldo who had the final say, sliding in at the far post to convert Gonzalo Higuain’s drilled cross-shot after the striker’s mesmerising one-two with Mesut Ozil.

Essien was part of Madrid’s team that travelled to England for the game but did not even make the bench of Real.

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READERS COMMENTS

kwame-blz says:

March 6, 2013 at 12:24 am

How come he didnt make the bench after playing against Barcelona?? do your research which it looks like you guys dont. There is reason but since you are the website I believe you know better than me if you a little research while on loan.

Reply to this Comment
Djeniko says:

March 6, 2013 at 7:00 am

The law is d law. It says no matter d intention, if a leg is raise above one meter and it hit someone, you are booked. So why call it “a shock red card.” Man city’s Beletoli was red carded by this same ref for d same offence and Beletoli was called an “idiot”. Nani is a victim becos he is Manu. Why raise your leg at all when you know people are around you? D ref is a ‘no non-sense’ man and he got it right on sport. when u know d nature of d man, u are careful.

Reply to this Comment
- Kobs says:
  
  March 6, 2013 at 11:45 am
  
  You miss the point. Nani didn’t know Arbeloa was there until he had hit him. This was unitentional so if now UEFA is setting the standard as unintentional fouls like this are red cards, then I expect that a goalie mistiming his punch from a corner and then taking out an attacking player will be send off with a red or an mistimed overhead kick where the striker hits an opponent is also a straight red…no matter if the player didn’t intend to do it.
  
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