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MADRID, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a record equaling goal before exiting to injury as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 on Wednesday to take a big step toward the Champions League semifinals. Nike Air Max 90 Pas Cher . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. Gareth Bale scored early and Isco added another before the half hour mark at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. "Ronaldo has a problem with his knee but at this moment Im not worried about it," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. The Spaniards opened against Dortmund as the Germans had against them in the semifinals last season -- when they thrashed Madrid 4-1 en route to reaching the final with a 4-3 victory on aggregate. In Wednesdays other quarterfinal first leg, Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 3-1 in the French capital. Madrid certainly didnt need inspiration after last seasons loss to Dortmund, which was without suspended striker Robert Lewandowski and five more regulars to injury as it fielded just four of the players present in last seasons 4-1 win. "The goals we gave up tonight were not because of this," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "It was too easy (for them), and thats not what we wanted. We made some mistakes and we were punished." The energetic start saw Bale nearly miss Dani Carvajals short pass inside the area before stretching to toe poke his fifth goal of the competition under goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller after just three minutes. Weidenfeller was sharp despite Madrids early onslaught as he punched free kicks from Ronaldo and Bale over the bar. He also stayed in the game despite wincing in pain after Marco Reus made a clearance that also connected with the keepers hands. With forward Angel Di Maria out to a gastro virus, Isco showed good poise to gather a loose ball in front of the area and slide home a low shot for 2-0 in the 27th minute. The Spain midfielders goal was just the boost Madrid needed as Dortmund began to find its rhythm, with Kevin Grosskreutz forcing Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas into a low stop in the 33rd. Ronaldo, playing in his 100th Champions League game, was clearly eager to match the record 14 goals scored by Lionel Messi in one Champions League campaign. Luka Modric made it happen as the Croat pounced on a poor Dortmund pass deep in its own area in the 57th minute and picked out Ronaldo, who dribbled around Weidenfeller for his 45th goal of the season. Jose Altafini also scored 14 goals in the 1962/63 European Cup campaign for AC Milan. "We did what we prepared for well," Ancelotti said. "We used a lot of energy in the first half and were tired. So we dropped the team back a little in the second half -- while looking to score on the counter." While Ronaldo and Karim Benzema continued to threaten Dortmunds goal, Madrid was fortunate not to concede under pressure as Pepe blocked Reus shot from inside the area after Casillas failed to control a cross. Madrids defence blocked several Dortmund shots during the final stages. "You have to do the right tactical things against the best teams in the world. We can do better than we did tonight," said Klopp, who rued the late misses. "(Losing) 3-0 you are not cool, you are not confident, you are under pressure and you are not confident in the box. We had chances." Madrid, which is vying for a record 10th European Cup, is now on the cusp of a fourth straight appearance in the semifinals -- a welcome lift after a difficult run in the Spanish league. In Tuesdays matches, defending champion Bayern Munich drew 1-1 at Manchester United, and Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 at Barcelona. air jordan 11 retro pas cher . Lowry joined TSN 1050 on Monday to discuss his personal growth, what was going through his mind on his final second drive and whether his future plans include staying in Toronto. “That last play will be my summertime grind,” Lowry said of his final shot which was blocked by Paul Pierce in the lane as time expired. Nike Roshe Run Femme . The Montreal Canadiens goaltenders dogs Motty ("short for Mozart") and Duke got loose overnight.TORONTO, Ontario - Skating as part of a regular line since the Maple Leafs reconvened for practice last Wednesday, it was a different look for David Bolland this morning, adorning a “non-contact” maroon jersey and participating only in selected drills as an extra player. “We felt Bolland took a step back yesterday, we felt it would be best suited that he didnt participate on a line today,” said head coach Randy Carlyle. “Its not a positive but its not a huge negative, dont read into it that its something we cant deal with.” “Hes unlikely for tomorrow; he had a little bit of a tweak there yesterday,” added GM Dave Nonis on “Leafs Lunch” on TSN 1050. “Hes had this before and its kind of a step program where he has this and it plateaus for a day or two and then he gets right back at it.” Bolland stumbled near the end of Tuesdays practice after a minor collision during a drill and appeared to grimace. He continued to participate in the few remaining drills but went straight to the locker room instead of joining the teams group discussion on the ice once practice has concluded. “We were playing a game mode situation there and I just had a little bit of a fall there but thats whats going to happen in a game so thats what I have to get ready for,” Bolland explained on Wednesday. While he will travel with the Leafs to New York and intends to take the morning skate, as Carlyle and Nonis indicated, Bolland will likely miss his 46th consecutive game on Thursday. Nikolai Kulemin between Mason Raymond and Troy Bodie formed the third line at Wednesdays practice. “Right now its just day to day. Its just getting it stronger,” Bolland said. “You have to be 100 per cent getting back in the line-up. Dont want to be a liability out there.” But when he gets back in isnt the only decision facing Leafs brass faces when it comes to Bolland. An unrestricted free agent on July 1, he is said to be seeking a longer term contract in the $5-plus million per year range as reported by TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Anything over $5.25 million – the cap hits for both Joffrey Lupul and David Clarkson – would make Bolland the Leafs second-highest paid forward, behind only Phil Kessels $8 million cap hit which kicks in next season. Best ssuited as a third line centre, can the Leafs afford to have Bolland that high on their pay scale? GM Dave Nonis indicated he doesnt necessarily feel compelled to make a decision before the Mar. Nike Roshe Run Solde Homme. . 5 trade deadline. “If youve got a player thats unrestricted it doesnt mean he wont sign if you dont sign him before the (July 1) deadline,” Nonis explained on TSN 1050. “Look at our situation last year with Tyler Bozak. We didnt reach an agreement (before the trade deadline), he felt we needed to have him in order to get into the post-season and at the end of the season, he was a player who wanted to be here and we wanted to sign him and we found a way to reach an agreement. I dont believe you have to have a player signed, Im perfectly content of letting the UFAs play it out and see where we are.” And that might be the wisest course of action. Once healthy, Bolland would certainly help the Leafs down the stretch and into the playoffs. Given that the Leafs have built a seven point cushion on a playoff spot without him for most of the season, his return can be viewed almost as if its a deadline acquisition, and a good one at that, without giving anything up. With a resume that speaks for itself – two Stanley Cups, a Cup-winning goal, a proven savvy playoff performer and a good leader – its not unreasonable for Bolland to look in the range of $5 million per season. If he doesnt get it from the Leafs, there will be other suitors more than content to offer that type of deal. But with Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson slated for restricted free agency at the end of the season, Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Bernier at the end of the 2015 campaign and Morgan Rielly the year after that, all of whom will be due raises, how much value can the Leafs place on intangibles? “I think a little,” Nonis said on TSN 1050. “You still want to make sure the player is a good fit, that he can contribute on the ice. Therere very few guys that are making an NHL living just on being good guys in the locker room. They need to be able to go out and perform on the ice but there are some things that dont show up on the score sheet that you look at.” Theres no debate as to whether Bolland makes any team he plays on better but, at this point, he could be a luxury the Leafs just cant afford. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
