MADRID, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid reach its third Copa del Rey final in four seasons with a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and a 5-0 victory on aggregate. Fred Evans . Ronaldo, who was hit on the head by a cigarette lighter at halftime, converted a pair of early penalties at the Vicente Calderon to put the match beyond Atleticos reach. Atletico beat Madrid at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to lift the trophy last season, but exits the domestic cup competition with doubts about its surprise Spanish league aspirations. Madrid will face either Barcelona or Real Sociedad in the April 19th final, with Barcelona leading 2-0 going into the second leg at San Sebastian. "Its the least important competition of our season but a final is always something nice for the team," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Already trailing 3-0, Atletico was also missing strikers Diego Costa and David Villa plus goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Filipe Luis for Tuesdays second leg match. Despite Atletico coach Diego Simeones promises of a rally, the hosts were effectively out of the competition just seven minutes into the game when the inexperienced Javier Manquillo shoved Ronaldo from behind inside the area to set up the opening spot kick. Ronaldo blasted his shot into the left side of net, past the diving Daniel Aranzubia, to end a three-game goal drought. Raul Garcia, who was moved up from midfield to striker because of the absences, saw his shot come off the post just moments before Madrid doubled its advantage. "The first leg was very important, of course, and the two penalties also," Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas said. "They took some of their bite away." Atletico defender Emiliano Insua slid into Gareth Bale to set up the second penalty after 16 minutes, with Ronaldo beating Aranzubia to the same side but along the ground for his 34th goal of the season. There was little drama beyond that apart from the yellow lighter that struck Ronaldo as he left for the dugout at halftime, which could lead to a fine or sanction for Atletico. "Those two quick goals changed the face of the game," Atletico midfielder Jose Sousa said. Manquillo was taken to hospital after he came down awkwardly on his neck just before halftime. Casillas extended his run to 863 minutes without conceding, a run stretching back to November in the Champions League and Copa del Rey. Madrid has now gone 24 matches unbeaten, but it wont have Ronaldo back in its lineup until its Champions League match at Schalke on Feb. 26. He will miss the next two league games as he completes a three-match ban. A third loss in a week has dented Atleticos season as the surprise La Liga challengers have been undone by injuries and fatigue from a mounting schedule. Madrid beat Barcelona 1-0 in extra-time to win the Copa del Rey in 2011. Cris Carter . 1 seed. James and Chris Bosh took the night off Monday, and the Heat were beaten 114-93 by the Washington Wizards in a no-contest game that guaranteed the Eastern Conferences top seed for the Indiana Pacers. So, no disappointment at all? "There would be no disappointment," said Dwyane Wade, who played because he needed some minutes after his recent nine-game layoff with a hamstring injury. Blair Walsh .coms Ian Rapoport, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle has asked that the team release him after 10 seasons in New England.LAS VEGAS -- Former UFC champion Anderson Silva will return to the octagon Jan. 31 against Nick Diaz in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White made the announcement Tuesday. Silva (33-6) hasnt fought since December, when the Brazilian star shattered his left shin in a bout with Chris Weidman. The 39-year-old Silva had won 16 straight fights and made 10 consecutive title defences before back-to-back losses to Weidman,, who took the middleweight belt from Silva in July 2013. Anthony Barr. Silva refused to retire after his gruesome injury, instead working toward a comeback. The popular Diaz (26-9) is a former Strikeforce welterweight champion, but he has lost both of his UFC title shots. Diaz has fought just once since February 2012, losing a decision to former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre last year. ' ' '
