Real Madrid survives second half heat

Real Madrid was able to stave off a furious late Galatasaray rally to cement its place in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday night in Istanbul’s Turk Telekom Arena with a 3-2 defeat. Jose Mourinho's team will now await the results of Friday's drawing to find out who will be their semifinal opponent.
Knowing full well that Galatasaray would be forced to press high to try to overcome the 3-0 deficit from last week's second leg, Madrid waited patiently for their opportunity to strike. An Ángel Di María chance was turned away after a Madrid counter-attack in the third minute but just five minutes later Los Blancos would hit pay dirt.
On the right edge of the area Di María fed a ball into Sami Khedira who then centered to an onrushing Ronaldo at the near post. It was an easy swipe into the net for the Portuguese superstar whose goal silenced the lively Turkish crowd. It was the 10th goal for Ronaldo this season in this Champions League campaign that has seen Madrid find the back of the net in every single one of its European contests.
Madrid nearly doubled the margin in the 25th when Ronaldo's sent a sublime back-heel to Di María only to see Galatasaray goalkeeper Muslera save the Argentine's effort.
Madrid closed out the first half in business-like fashion with Galatasaray generating very little in attack. Only a 30th minute Michael Essien injury soured the first 45 minutes for Madrid.
However, in a stadium known not only for its hellish environment for visiting teams, but also great European comebacks - Liverpool overcame a 3-0 second half deficit against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final at the Turk Telekom Arena - Galatasaray summoned every ounce of effort and stunned Madrid with three goals in the second half.
Eboué equalized the match in the 57th minute with a thumping strike that beat Diego Lopez. Fourteen minutes later the intensity was ratcheted up when Wesley Sneijder scored against his former club. The Dutchman got the best of Madrid defender Raphael Varane and sent the second past Lopez. A mere one minute later Didier Drogba struck for the home side's third when he rifled in a shot just inside the post. The Ivorian thought he had a fourth for Galatasaray in the 81st minute but was adjudged to be offside.
Not wanting to take any chances, Mourinho brought on Karim Benzema and then Raul Albiol to settle down his side and Ronaldo ensured there would be no further drama with a second half stoppage time goal.