MADRID, Feb. 14-- Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Paris Saint Germain 3-1 with two late goals in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie in the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. Substitute Marco Asensio was the key to a result which had barely looked likely with just 10 minutes left in the game and the score was 1-1. Asensio produced two assists after entering the game as a 78th minute substitute, first to see Ronaldo put Madrid 2-1 ahead as the ball rebounded off his knee and then for Marcelo to make it 3-1 with a left foot shot which gives Madrid a two-goal cushion to take to Paris in three weeks. Zinedine Zidane produced a surprise in his starting 11 when he left Gareth Bale out and gave a start to Isco, but the tactic appeared to work in the opening minutes as Madrid forced PSG to play very deep. Karim Benzema had a shot well saved by Alphonse Areola in the fifth minute and Areola did even better to block an effort from Ronaldo after a counter-attack provoked by a slip from Neymar, who at times was guilty trying to take on the whole Madrid defense and his frustration had already boiled over into a booking. However, he had a hand in the opening goal as he was able to set up Adrien Rabiot to sidefoot past Keylor Navas following a fine run form Kylian Mbappe after 32 minutes. Madrid equalized from the penalty spot after Tony Kroos drew a foul in the PSG area allowing Ronaldo to beat Areola. |