|
|
| June 24, 2003 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 23,1424 |
Real Madrid clinch record 29th title
MADRID, June 23: Brazilian Ronaldo promised Real Madrid fans a special treat before Sunday’s crucial game against Athletic Bilbao and the striker remained true to his word as he scored two goals in their 3-1 win over the Basques to give Real a record 29th title.
After a week in which the imminent arrival of England forward David Beckham from Manchester United has overshadowed the team’s league decider, Real got back to business to end Real Sociedad’s league ambitions.
Sociedad started the day two points in arrears of their rivals from the Spanish capital but, despite a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid, they were frustrated in their bid to lift their first title in 21 years thanks to Ronaldo and the rest of Real Madrid’s star-studded side.
The Brazilian World Cup winner took the field with a complete skinhead cut apart from a tuft at the front - a style he sported in the closing stages of the World Cup finals last year as he led Brazil to victory - but soon showed that his new hairdo had not gone to his head.
He opened the scoring after just nine minutes finishing off a move which started with Luis Figo darting down the left wing.
The Portuguese winger’s pass found Roberto Carlos, who produced a defence-splitting pass from the touchline, which left Ronaldo with the relatively simple task of slotting the ball home from close-range.
Real had two other chances, from Raul and Ronaldo, with Athletic goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia pulling off brave saves before former Spanish international Bitor Alkiza levelled the scores after 36 minutes with his first goal of the season.
Alkiza was given acres of space just outside the box and used the luxury to tee up a swerving left foot shot from 20 metres, which left Real goalie Iker Casillas standing staring at the ball as it made its way into the net.
Real took the lead again nearly two minutes into first half injury time when Roberto Carlos fired home one of his trademark thunderbolt freekicks from the edge of the box.
The game ended as a contest when Zinedine Zidane caught the Athletic defence napping just after the hour and Ronaldo ran through their poorly executed offside trap to score his 23rd league goal of the season.
He had the second highest tally of goals in the Spanish first division behind the 29 notched up by Deportivo’s dynamic Dutch striker Roy Makaay.
Goals from Darko Kovacevic, Javier De Pedro and Nihat Kahveci gave them a comfortable victory, although it was ultimately in vain.—AFP
|
|
