Champions' League:Lokomotiv Moscow...0 Real Madrid...1A rare headed goal from Brazilian star Ronaldo saw the reigning champions Real Madrid into the last eight of the Champions League last night after a hard- fought 1-0 away victory over Lokomotiv Moscow.
However Real were fortunate not to exit the competition with Dortmund winning in Milan and could well have done so had the hosts' Brazilian midfielder Julio Cesar beaten the keeper from just five yards out two minutes from time instead of blasting it over the bar.
However, Real held out to record only their first victory in Moscow in nine visits.
Ronaldo finished off a splendid move by Madrid in the 35th minute which involved Zinedine Zidane, Raul and then a cross from Luis Figo which escaped the Lokomotiv defence, the Brazilian having lost his marker.
The 26-year-old Brazilian celebrated by tapping the top of his shaven head, indicating how rare it was for him to score with it and what was only his second goal of the campaign.
The Russians allowed their frustration to boil over as Ruslan Pimenov went up for a ball leading with his elbow and caught Michel Salagado full in the face, but despite the Spaniard's protestations the referee awarded a free-kick to the hosts.
Ronaldo then tested Sergei Ovchinnikov with a curling effort from the left hand side of the box, but the Russian keeper beat it away at full stretch.
Salgado, though, almost had the last laugh of the first-half when he unleashed a ferocious curling effort from Ronaldo's incisive pass but Ovchinnikov held it at the second attempt - the half ended with Figo making the gesture of handing the Russian guardian his shirt.
Lokomotiv had the first clear opportunity to score in the 18th minute but Vadim Eseev made a complete hash of his free header pounding it into the turf and watching it bounce over the bar.
The Russians pressed forward and produced the best move of the match up to that point as South Africa international Thabo Mnguni and Marat Izamilov played a one-two, with the latter breaking free into the area but his shot hit the sidenetting.
The second-half had started off like the first as the Russians turned on the pressure but were let down by some wild shooting and a poor last ball and it was Madrid who went closest to adding to the score in the 56th minute.
It was Ronaldo again as he sidestepped a defender and let fly but his shot was deflected by Gennadi Nizhegorodov narrowly wide of the goal for a corner.
However, only a superb reflex save by Iker Casillas from Eseev's header prevented the hosts levelling, though it took Salgado to hack it clear.
Dimitri Sennikov then saw a rasping effort from outside the box deflected away for a corner as Lokomotiv stepped up a gear but it was Julio Cesar who was to be the biggest culprit in not depriving Real of their place in the last eight.
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW: Ovchinnikov; Nizchegorodov, Ignashevitch, Pachinine, Sennikov, Maminov (Sirkhaev 82), Loskov, Evseev, Izmailov, Mnguni (Cesar 72), Pimenov. Subs Not Used: Zakharchuk, Drozdov, Lekgetho, Obradovic, Vucicevic. Booked: Nizchegorodov.
REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado, Solari, Helguera, Pavon, Makelele, Flavio, Figo, Zidane (Cambiasso 90), Raul, Ronaldo (Guti 82). Subs Not Used: Cesar, Minambres, Ruben, McManaman, Portillo. Goals: Ronaldo 35.
Referee: C Colombo (France)
