Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals within a 9-minute span in the second half to lift Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Chivas of Guadalajara in an exhibition soccer match Wednesday night.
Ronaldo, a former world Player of the Year, had been stymied by Chivas goalie Luis Michel in the first half. Michel stopped Ronaldo on a couple of free kicks and a clear opportunity which he hit into the right side of the net in the 39th minute.
However, in the 73rd minute Ronaldo split two Chivas defenders took a pass from Karim Benzema brought it down with his left foot and kicked it with his right past goalie Michel breaking the scoreless tie.
Three minutes later Ronaldo converted a penalty kick when teammate Pepe was taken down by Chivas Omar Areliano.
Ronaldo finished off his hat trick with a blast to the lower right hand corner of the net in the 82nd minute.
AP