CRISTIANO RONALDO scored his first goal for Real Madrid after three matches — via a penalty — to steer them to a 4-2 win over LDU Quito of Ecuador in a tense and controversial Group B match at Santiago Bernabeu this morning for a place in the semifinal.

Christoph Metzelder

Ronaldo, signed up for £80 million (RM461.1m) from Manchester United, earned a controversial penalty in the 40th minute and coolly converted it amid protests from LUD Quito players and manager Jorge Fossati. Fossati was then sent to the stands by the referee after he continued to protest saying that Ronaldo “dived just a bit too much”.

Earlier in the match, Ronaldo claimed a penalty which was not given. Before this goal, the match was even with both teams having had a number of chances to score but they failed to capitalise on them.

Then came the Ronaldo opener which gave Real, who needed to win to make the last four, the advantage. Esteban Granero made it 2-0 for Real in the 62nd minute.

But the Ecuadorians were not willing to give up just yet and started to be more offensive and they were rewarded in the 68th minute when Enrique struck from a header to reduce the deficit.

German defender Christoph Metzelder stunned LDU Quito when he found the net from a header to give Real a 3-1 lead in the 71st minute.

However, the visitors who needed a draw to advance to the semifinal, refused to give up and Vera scored their second goal in the 85th minute. But Real finished it off when striker Alvaro Negredo