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Real Madrid defeat Roma 3-0
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.
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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