Real Madrid advances in King's Cup

MADRID (AP) Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 Thursday to reach the King's Cup semifinals for the first time since 2006.

Giving chase: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) vies for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Tiago Cardoso in King's Cup action on Thursday. Real won 1-0 and advanced 4-1 on aggregate. AP PHOTO

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 32nd goal of the season at Vicente Calderon Stadium by powering Sergio Ramos' 23rd-minute cross past goalkeeper David De Gea. Madrid won the first leg 3-1 and advanced 4-1 on aggregate.

Madrid extended its unbeaten run against its crosstown rival to 20 games — a streak that stretches to 1999 and includes 14 victories.

Madrid, a 17-time winner which last triumphed in the domestic cup competition in 1993, plays defending champion Sevilla in the last four next week.

Record 25-time champion Barcelona faces Almeria in the other half of the draw.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho left striker Karim Benzema and playmaker Kaka on the bench to start the game, with Mesut Oezil and Ronaldo playing up front. Angel Di Maria provided support, while fullback Marcelo played further up in the midfield.

"I left Kaka on the bench because I wanted to play a different way. We came in with a 3-1 lead and it was important to conserve it," Mourinho said. "A good decision, no?"

Atletico, without injured striker Sergio Aguero, swarmed Madrid's area straight away with Jose Antonio Reyes curling a free kick over the far post in the sixth minute.

Madrid keeper Iker Casillas' error allowed the ball to roll through the area in the 14th, but Tiago was unable to reach it in time to create a chance. Atletico failed to get a shot away in the ensuing scramble.

Madrid scored on its only real opportunity of the game after Ramos beat the offside trap down the right side and picked out Ronaldo for the opener. The Portugal forward tied Barcelona rival Lionel Messi's 32-goal total in all competitions this season.