A Ronaldo hat trick steered holders Real Madrid into the semi-finals of this season's Champions League despite a 4-3 defeat by Manchester United in a thrilling encounter here at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Real's 3-1 first leg victory saw them take the quarterfinal 6-5 on aggregate after England captain David Beckham, a second-half substitute, scored twice for United in the closing stages.
The Spanish giants now face Juventus in the last four for the right to face either AC Milan or Inter Milan in the final -- at Old Trafford.
United coach Sir Alex Ferguson swallowed his disappointment to praise both sides for a thrilling spectacle.
"What a game! The key as I said before the game was to keep them out but we failed to do that. I am proud of the players as they put up a terrific show."
Ronaldo's opening strike on 12 minutes left Ferguson's men with a mountain to climb and despite their valiant efforts they could not bridge the gap from their defeat in the Bernabeu.
Only one team in Champions League history -- Real's arch-rivals Barcelona against Chelsea in 2000 -- had ever overturned a two-goal first leg deficit.
And United's chances of matching that feat suffered a major blow in the 12th minute when Ronaldo's opener crowned a fine Real move.
A quick counter-attack saw France star Zinedine Zidane find Guti, in for appendicitis victim Raul.
Guti's through ball left fellow striker Ronaldo through on keeper Fabien Barthez as the Brazil forward outpaced England center-back Rio Ferdinand.
Despite veering away from goal, Ronaldo then beat the France international at his near post.
United found themselves frustrated by Real's possession football but forced their way back into the match and their pressure eventually told two minutes before the break.
Ryan Giggs' pass released Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his cut back from the right found Ruud Van Nistelrooy on the edge of the six yard box where the Dutch international duly scored his 37th goal of a prolific season.
It was also his second against Real after his away goal gave United a first leg lifeline.
However, five minutes after the break Ronaldo bagged his second when he swept in Roberto Carlos' center, from the edge of the six-yard box.
But United refused to surrender and barely two minutes later were level on the night when Ivan Helguera turned Juan Sebastian Veron's cross-shot into his own net.
Casillas then denied Solskjaer and Veron in quick succession before Ronaldo struck a magnificent third in the 58th minute.
Receiving the ball 35m out he hypnotized the United defense with a mazy run before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Barthez's outstretched left hand.
Raul, who scored twice in the first leg win at the Bernabeu on April 8, after the Spain striker was taken to hospital on Monday -- - but Ronaldo duly shouldered goalscoring responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Ferguson omitted talismanic England captain David Beckham from his starting line-up after the midfielder was marked out of the first leg by Roberto Carlos.
It was another blow to the ego of Beckham -- linked with a post-season move to Real -- after he had been left out of the starting eleven earlier this month for games against United's Premier League title rivals Newcastle and Arsenal.
Beckham's place was taken by Solskjaer, the Norway striker up front with Giggs and Van Nistelrooy as Ferguson aimed to give the Real defense a thorough workout.
Ferguson said he felt justified in starting with Solskjaer and not Beckham.
"Solskjaer has been in great form down the right for us and tonight he created several chances and had a few himself and it isn't binding that he stays as a substitute -- he is also a first team player."
With England's Paul Scholes suspended, Argentine midfielder Veron played his first match in seven weeks following a knee injury but gave way to Beckham in the 63rd minute.
Eight minutes later Beckham equalized with a trademark free-kick from the edge of the box that left Casillas rooted to the spot.
And five minutes before the finish Beckham turned Van Nistelrooy's goalbound shot over the line, too little too late.
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