Ronaldo puts Real into quarter-finals

Ronaldo secured Real Madrid a Champions League quarter-final place with a first-half strike that gave the European champions a 1-0 win at Lokomotiv Moscow in their final Group C match on Tuesday.

The victory for the Spaniards eliminated Borussia Dortmund, who managed a 1-0 win at AC Milan in the other group match only to find their valiant effort was all for nothing.

Milan topped the table on 12 points, one point ahead of Real. The German champions finished with 10 points, while Lokomotiv finished bottom with just a single point after holding Real to a 2-2 draw in Madrid last December.

Ronaldo, voted World Player of the Year in 2002 for the third time in his career, headed home from close range in the 35th minute after a pinpoint cross by Luis Figo.

Ronaldo tested the Russian defence once again with a well-taken volley from the edge of the box 10 minutes into the second half, but his shot was blocked by a defender.

The Russian champions had a couple of chances after the interval, but missed the target.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas was really tested only once, making a point-blank save off a Vadim Yevseyev header in the 78th minute when Lokomotiv pressed for an equaliser.

It was, however, a mostly uneventful match played on a dreadful pitch covered with sand, making it more akin to a steeplechase course than a soccer match.

But a skilful display by Brazil's Ronaldo and Portugal's Figo -- two of the world's best players -- swung the match in Real's favour.

It was their first victory in Moscow after eight previous visits to the Russian capital had ended in draws or defeats.