Story below is the Reuters version of Wednesday's BIG MATCH, MAN U.
vs. REAL MADRID. RONALDO, the World Cup 2002 and 1998 MVP, showed
why he's the world's top striker. A great story with great
highlights.

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MANCHESTER, England -- A stunning hat trick from Ronaldo sealed Real
Madrid's passage into the semifinals of the Champions League on
Wednesday despite the reigning European champions losing a
spectacular match 4-3 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

In a throwback to the high-scoring European nights of the 1950s and
60s, Real went through 6-5 on aggregate with the Brazilian striker,
the top scorer at last summer's World Cup, finding the target three
times with his only three shots of the night.

Real will now play Juventus in the last four with the winners of that
tie facing the winners of the AC Milan-Inter Milan derby semifinal in
the European Cup Final at Old Trafford on May 18.

Ronaldo scored for the reigning European champions after 12, 50 and
59 minutes before United set up a storming two-goal finish with
substitute David Beckham scoring twice to give the club a 4-3 victory
on the night.

But it was not enough to keep alive United's hopes of lifting the
title on its own ground.

"It was a marvellous night for football, but of course we are
disappointed," said United manager Alex Ferguson.

"We made chances, some excellent chances, but did not take them and
you have to do that against a team like Real. Good luck to them now,
I hope they go on and win it."

England captain Beckham had been replaced in United's starting lineup
by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Ferguson gambled on extra firepower to try
and overturn Real's two-goal first leg advantage.

Dutchman Ruud Van Nistelrooy almost provided the perfect start for
United with a vicious angled drive in the third minute that was
parried away by Iker Casillas.

However, the downside of United's all-out attacking policy was that
the Spaniards could score themselves to nullify the away goal Van
Nistelrooy grabbed in Madrid.

Those fears materialized with just 12 minutes gone as Ronaldo struck
his first with deadly accuracy after moving clear of Rio Ferdinand
and driving the ball between Fabien Barthez and the Frenchman's near-
post.

United weathered a long period of Real domination and eventually
equalized in the 43rd minute.

Ryan Giggs found Solskjaer in the penalty area with the Norwegian
turning the ball past goalkeeper Casillas and Ivan Helguera for Van
Nistelrooy to force home from close range to make it 1-1.

It was his 10th goal in seven games and his 12th in the Champions
League this season, a record for the competition.

Ronaldo put Real 2-1 ahead five minutes after the break with a gaping
goal at his mercy following a build-up involving Zinedine Zidane and
his Brazilian teammate Roberto Carlos.

United made it 2-2 almost immediately when Helguera turned the ball
into his own net in the 52nd minute before Ronaldo secured the
overall victory with a stunning 25-meter strike that gave Barthez no
chance with 31 minutes to play.

Beckham, who came on as a 63rd minute substitute for Juan Sebastian
Veron, made it 3-3 with a brilliantly-executed free kick in the 71st
minute. Beckham also forced the ball across the line for United's
fourth after 84 minutes.

In a night of brilliant attacking soccer from both sides, both were
able to step up a gear and put the other under pressure.

There were several key moments, but the vital turning point came
after 50 minutes when Real grabbed the crucial second away goal.

Luis Figo hit the bar with a delicate chip over Barthez, and before
United could clear their lines Roberto Carlos raced onto Zidane's
defense-splitting pass and squared for Ronaldo to slot into an empty
net.

Almost immediately, Helguera squared things up on the night with a
comical own goal from Veron's low cross.

Casillas then maintained Madrid's two-goal aggregate lead with smart
instinctive saves from Van Nistelrooy and Veron.

Ronaldo capped his magnificent solo display just before the hour mark
with a stunning third goal from 25-yards before Beckham squared
things up again with a trademark free kick, tapping in his second
from close range six minutes from time.

But by then it was too little, too late and Real was through.