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Real Madrid defeat Roma 3-0
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-09 09:04
One goal from Ronaldo and two from Luis Figo were more than enough to place
Real Madrid through to the last 16 of the Champions League as the Spaniards beat
Roma in Wednesday night's group B decider.
Real Madrid's
Portuguese forward Luis Figo(L) celebrates with teammate British David
Beckham after scoring his team's second goal against AS Roma in their
Champions League clash in Rome. Real Madrid won the match 3-0.
[AFP] |
Ronaldo put Madrid on their way after
nine minutes played but the visitors were made to sweat before Figo's
second-half strikes killed off the game.
The Portuguese midfielder struck his first of the night in the 59th minute
from the penalty spot after Traianos Dellas was ruled to have brought down
Ronaldo inside the area and added his second with nine minutes remaining on the
clock.
Real go through as group runners-up behind Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, the
team they beat to take the last of their nine European titles in 2002.
The Spanish side went into their last group game needing a win to progress to
the knock out stages having only taken eight points from their opening five
fixtures.
Figo's recovery from an ankle injury meant that the visitors had all their
"galacticos" available for the crucial encounter.
While coach Mariano Garcia Remon lined-up his best 11, with the duo Ronaldo
and Raul in attack, Luigi Del Neri picked an unusual formation that featured
five regular substitutes.
Del Neri rested his formidable attacking trio Francesco Totti, Antonio
Cassano and Vincenzo Montella, with the Giallorossi with nothing to play for,
except their pride.
"Roma never alone" was the colourful message that decorated the empty stands
of the Olimpico but that was far from the reality in the stadium, with the game
being played behind close doors because of a punishment inflicted on Roma for a
coin that was thrown at referee Anders Frisk during their home match with Dynamo
Kiev.
Madrid came out all guns blazing and with two minutes played Ronaldo could
have given the visitors an ideal start but his close-range header went narrowly
wide of Ivan Pelizzoli's left post.
Roma replied shortly after, with Marco Delvecchio's header proving an easy
catch for Iker Casillas.
But it only took nine minutes for Madrid to find the target. A clever pass
from Zinedine Zidane was picked up by Ronaldo who surged inside the area leaving
behind three defenders before lifting the ball over Pelizzoli.
The goal did not intimidate the hosts, who were keen to restore parity but it
was Madrid who came close to extending their advantage.
With 17 minutes played, Michel Salgado served Raul inside the box but his
shot on the turn drifted wide.
Three minutes later, Zidane crossed from his own half towards and played in
Ronaldo, whose finishing touch went inches wide of the right post. Madrid may
have dominated possession but that soon changed with the hosts looking to test
Casillas.
With 30 minutes played, Roma came agonisingly close to levelling the score
when Vincent Candela's free-kick struck the outside of Casillas' right-hand
post.
Seconds later, Daniele Corvia fired high of the crossbar.
Pelizzoli was forced to dive to his left following Roberto Carlos' dangerous
strike in the 35th minute, while at the other end, Alberto Aquilani tried his
luck from the distance but his shot didn't threaten Casillas.
Madrid attempted to extend their lead before halftime and had several
opportunities to do so but Raul and Figo's efforts from the edge of the area
went off target.
Casillas allowed Madrid to go into the break with a 1-0 advantage after
punching away Matteo Ferrari's powerful central strike.
The second-half got underway with Madrid determined to find the goal of
tranquility as they increased the tempo. It was the goalscorer who should have
struck the second of the night with 48 minutes played but his close-range effort
went straight to Pelizzoli.
Seven minutes later, Dellas' vital tackle avoided what would certainly have
been Madrid's second, with Ronaldo ready to fire the ball to the back of the
net.
In the 59th minute, Dutch referee Rene Temmink did not hesitate to point to
the penalty spot after Dellas brought down Ronaldo inside the box.
Figo, who missed from the spot against Bayer Leverkusen in Madrid's last
European encounter, made no mistake this time and struck the ball to the
top-right corner to make it 2-0.
In the 66th minute, Beckham was forced to make a vital clearance with Candela
ready to test Casillas from close range.
Roma attempted to reduce the deficit and came mighty close when Mancini's
free-kick was deflected by Zidane and forced Casillas to punch away.
With 11 minutes left to play, the hosts had a goal disallowed for offside
with Corvia having headed to the back of the net following a superb play from
Roma.
But Figo made sure to kill off the game with nine minutes remaining, after
his fantastic control was followed by a delightful strike directed at
Pelizzoli's right post.
Garcia Remon made a double substitution shortly after, with the goalscorers
giving way to Francisco Pavon and Michael Owen.
Teams
Roma Pelizzoli, Mexes, Ferrari, Dellas, Cufre, Perrotta (De Martino 82),
Aquilani, Candela, Mancini, Delvecchio, Corvia.
Subs Not Used: Zotti, Sartor, D'Agostino, Cerci, Briotti, Simonetta.
Booked: Dellas, Perrotta.
Real Madrid Casillas, Helguera, Samuel, Salgado, Carlos, Beckham, Zidane
(Celades 85), Guti, Figo (Pavon 82), Raul, Ronaldo (Owen 84).
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Morientes, Bravo, Solari.
Booked: Zidane.
Goals: Ronaldo 9, Figo 61 pen, 82.
Att: 0
Ref: Rene Temmink (Holland).
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