Ruud van Nistelrooy became only the third player to score 50 goals in the European Champion Clubs' Cup with an astute chip as Real Madrid CF moved to within striking distance of a place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a commanding victory at FC Steaua Bucuresti.
Masterful Madrid
Madrid took an iron grip on the Group E game with first-half goals from Sergio Ramos and Raúl González before Robinho effectively settled the match as a contest shortly after the restart. Valentin Badea offered Steaua faint hope when he reduced the deficit on 64 minutes but Van Nistelrooy crowned an excellent performance from the visitors when he chipped superbly over Carlos Fernandes with 14 minutes remaining.
Expectant crowd
The Steaua Stadium was packed long before kick-off and the expectations of a raucous home crowd were close to being met straight from the start as Iker Casillas rushed from his line to punch clear from Banel Nicolita. Madrid, though, soon took the game to the Romanian champions. Robinho, in for the injured José Antonio Reyes, forced Carlos into a save before the visitors produced the riposte they so needed following Saturday's defeat by Getafe CF. Guti sent in a corner from the left on nine minutes and Ramos climbed highest to head Madrid in front.
Dica chance
Somewhat surprisingly this was the first meeting between these two illustrious sides and they were putting on a show worthy of the occasion. Carlos again saved well from Robinho before Casillas produced an even better stop at the other end, spectacularly clawing away Nicolae Dica's curling shot. Robinho's deft touches and clever flicks were a joy to watch and it was the Brazilian's delicate pass infield to Emerson that led to Madrid's second goal eleven minutes before half-time. His compatriot fed Van Nistelrooy and though Carlos again blocked his effort, Raúl was on hand to turn the rebound into an open goal.
Robinho class
Even Steaua fans stood to applaud when Robinho curled in Madrid's third eleven minutes into the second half. Coach Fabio Capello's decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench was thorougly vindicated as the 22-year-old calmly sidestepped Rahamin Klemi Saban before firing beyond Carlos, albeit with the help of a deflection off Dorin Goian. Eight minutes later Badea had the home support back on their feet, this time in celebration of a Steaua goal as he made the most of some uncertainty in the Madrid defence to turn in substitute Cyril Thereau's low cross.
Perfect chip
Unexpectedly Steaua were back in contention, but their hopes were dashed by Van Nistelrooy, the Dutchman somehow digging the ball up and over Carlos from eight metres to join Raúl and Andriy Shevchenko on 50 European Cup goals. On a night of milestones, David Beckham came on to make his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance as Madrid rounded off the evening in style. They have now scored nine times in two continental outings and will qualify with another victory against Steaua in a fortnight's time.
Showing posts with label Van Nistelrooy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Van Nistelrooy. Show all posts
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Real Madrid 2 Lyon 2
Olympique Lyonnais secured first place in UEFA Champions League Group E despite letting a two-goal lead slip at Real Madrid CF, although it took Grégory Coupet's last-minute penalty save from Ruud van Nistelrooy to preserve their point.
Madrid fightback
Needing a draw to win the group, Lyon swept into a 2-0 lead by the 31st minute, exposing some static Madrid defending with strikes from John Carew and Florent Malouda. The Spanish side quickly rallied, however, and former Lyon midfielder Mahamadou Diarra headed a goal in the 39th minute before Van Nistelrooy levelled from close range seven minutes from time. The Dutch forward then earned a penalty whose successful conversion would have meant the group winners being decided on Matchday 6, but Coupet dived to his left to keep out the spot-kick.
Lyon attack
Lyon coach Gérard Houllier had insisted the knowledge that qualification was already assured would give both teams the freedom to produce an open and entertaining spectacle, and his words proved prophetic as Lyon went ahead in the eleventh minute. Carew, who had scored in the corresponding fixture last season and tormented the Madrid back four throughout the first half, received the ball in a central position before gliding through Fabio Cannavaro's challenge and prodding past Iker Casillas. Madrid's problems were compounded when Guti was forced off following a challenge with Jérémy Toulalan. José Antonio Reyes took his place.
Malouda mark
With Lyon continuing to pass the ball skilfully and at pace, it was little surprise when the French champions doubled their advantage a minute past the half-hour. Yet again it was a set-piece from captain Juninho Pernambucano that did the damage, the unmarked Malouda meeting the Brazilian's pinpoint right-wing free-kick with an emphatic volley. The shock of conceding twice at home in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in more than two years sparked a rallying cry from the home support and the Merengues responded by pulling one back six minutes before the break. Reyes's left-wing corner was forced back across goal by Van Nistelrooy and Diarra dived in to nod Madrid back into contention against his old club.
Chances at both ends
Both teams remained threatening in the early stages of the second period as a driven Roberto Carlos free-kick was deflected out to Sergio Ramos, who failed to control having found space. Carew then went close with a strike from an angle that was touched to safety by the alert Casillas, but Madrid replied with Van Nistelrooy and Raúl González creating the opportunity for Robinho to volley over. Play quickly returned to the other end and Malouda might have done better after turning inside Iván Helguera only to blaze over.
Van Nistelrooy involvement
Madrid finally pulled level when Raúl met Roberto Carlos's left-wing centre and, although his header hit the right-hand post, the ball rolled perfectly for Van Nistelrooy to slam in his fourth goal in the competition this term. Then, in the final minute, the former Manchester United FC player was upended by Cris and presented with the chance to secure victory, but for the second successive UEFA Champions League match, he failed from the spot. Lyon end their campaign at home to FC Steaua Bucuresti while Madrid visit FC Dynamo Kyiv, with Malouda and Sergio Ramos sitting out those games through suspension.
Madrid fightback
Needing a draw to win the group, Lyon swept into a 2-0 lead by the 31st minute, exposing some static Madrid defending with strikes from John Carew and Florent Malouda. The Spanish side quickly rallied, however, and former Lyon midfielder Mahamadou Diarra headed a goal in the 39th minute before Van Nistelrooy levelled from close range seven minutes from time. The Dutch forward then earned a penalty whose successful conversion would have meant the group winners being decided on Matchday 6, but Coupet dived to his left to keep out the spot-kick.
Lyon attack
Lyon coach Gérard Houllier had insisted the knowledge that qualification was already assured would give both teams the freedom to produce an open and entertaining spectacle, and his words proved prophetic as Lyon went ahead in the eleventh minute. Carew, who had scored in the corresponding fixture last season and tormented the Madrid back four throughout the first half, received the ball in a central position before gliding through Fabio Cannavaro's challenge and prodding past Iker Casillas. Madrid's problems were compounded when Guti was forced off following a challenge with Jérémy Toulalan. José Antonio Reyes took his place.
Malouda mark
With Lyon continuing to pass the ball skilfully and at pace, it was little surprise when the French champions doubled their advantage a minute past the half-hour. Yet again it was a set-piece from captain Juninho Pernambucano that did the damage, the unmarked Malouda meeting the Brazilian's pinpoint right-wing free-kick with an emphatic volley. The shock of conceding twice at home in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in more than two years sparked a rallying cry from the home support and the Merengues responded by pulling one back six minutes before the break. Reyes's left-wing corner was forced back across goal by Van Nistelrooy and Diarra dived in to nod Madrid back into contention against his old club.
Chances at both ends
Both teams remained threatening in the early stages of the second period as a driven Roberto Carlos free-kick was deflected out to Sergio Ramos, who failed to control having found space. Carew then went close with a strike from an angle that was touched to safety by the alert Casillas, but Madrid replied with Van Nistelrooy and Raúl González creating the opportunity for Robinho to volley over. Play quickly returned to the other end and Malouda might have done better after turning inside Iván Helguera only to blaze over.
Van Nistelrooy involvement
Madrid finally pulled level when Raúl met Roberto Carlos's left-wing centre and, although his header hit the right-hand post, the ball rolled perfectly for Van Nistelrooy to slam in his fourth goal in the competition this term. Then, in the final minute, the former Manchester United FC player was upended by Cris and presented with the chance to secure victory, but for the second successive UEFA Champions League match, he failed from the spot. Lyon end their campaign at home to FC Steaua Bucuresti while Madrid visit FC Dynamo Kyiv, with Malouda and Sergio Ramos sitting out those games through suspension.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Sunday, December 03, 2006
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