AMSTERDAM, Aug 2: Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins scored twice as Inter Milan eased to a 3-0 win over Galatasaray in the Amsterdam tournament on Friday.
In the night’s other game English club Liverpool and hosts Ajax drew 0-0.
Inter, who finished second last season in Italy’s Serie A, were without a host of leading players including strikers Hernan Crespo and Christian Vieri.
But their replacements had an easy night against the 2000 UEFA Cup winners from Turkey.
Umit Karan and Hakan Sukur both threatened to score early on for Galatasaray but eight minutes before halftime Inter took the lead when Martins headed home a cross by skipper Javier Zanetti.
Soon after Luis Cesar Prates struck the crossbar with a free kick for the Turkish side.
Inter, though, doubled their lead after 64 minutes when Martins collected a neat pass and gave Galatasaray keeper Farid Mondragon no chance.
Two minutes later substitute Mario Rebecchi made it 3-0 and Galatasaray’s misery was complete when striker Hasan Sas was red-carded for a second bookable offence eight minutes from the end.
Both Liverpool and Ajax missed a hatful of chances in the second match in the Amsterdam Arena.
Rafael van der Vaart, playing in attack, was Ajax’s most dangerous player and he forced an early save from Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek.
Liverpool’s new signing Harry Kewell, back after an ankle injury, played on the right side of midfield and set up a chance for Milan Baros soon after.
Two minutes before the break Dudek made two excellent saves within seconds as he first blocked a Van der Vaart shot with his feet and then deflected a shot from Tomas Galasek just over the crossbar.
After restart Kewell, El Hadji Diouf and Danny Murphy missed good chances for Liverpool.
In the dying minutes both sides had their opportunity to grab the win but Dudek saved twice from Van der Vaart and ex-Liverpool player Jari Litmanen, while Emile Heskey headed straight at Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Bayern’S easy win
BERLIN: Bayern Munich started the defence of their German title with a comfortable 3-1 win over promoted Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
The Bundesliga season opener was as one-sided as expected, Bayern showing their class and Eintracht displaying their limitations.
The Bayern fans packing the Olympic stadium watched their team take the lead on 16 minutes with a low drive from the edge of the box by Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto.
Bosnian midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic doubled the advantage with a headed goal from a free kick four minutes later and Peru striker Claudio Pizarro added a third three minutes from the break, also with a header.
With the issue beyond doubt, Bayern slowed down in the second half and their visitors reduced the arrears, Albania midfielder Ervin Skela scoring from a free kick in the 68th minute.
However Eintracht, German champions in 1959 and UEFA Cup winners in 1980 but no longer a major force, showed little on the night and had to wait 60 minutes for a real scoring chance, Skela rattling the crossbar from a free kick.
Hitzfeld witnessed a strong performance from gifted Germany midfielder Sebastian Deisler, who will be eager to shine this season after injuries ruined his debut season at the club.
Bayern kept busy in the last term by winning their 18th German title, and also the German Cup to clinch their fourth domestic double.
But what they really want this season is rehabilitation in Europe after making an embarrassing first-stage exit last year from the Champions League.
There are six matches on Saturday, with Borussia Dortmund visiting neighbours Schalke 04 in the highlight of the programme.
LILLE TAME LYON
PARIS: Midfielder Jean Makoun scored on his debut as Lille kicked off the French Ligue 1 season with a surprise 1-0 victory over champions Olympique Lyon on Friday.
The 20-year-old converted a fine cross by Gregory Tafforeau to beat Lyon’s international goalkeeper Gregory Coupet from close range in the 12th minute.
The defeat extended Lyon’s appalling record of not having won their opening game of the season since they returned to the top flight in 1989.
The visitors dominated for most of the match but Lille proved disciplined in defence and Lyon created just one clear chance to equalise — when defender Edmilson headed a free kick from Vikash Dhorasoo just over the crossbar on the hour.
It served to highlight the fact that Lyon have not yet found a reliable replacement for goal scorer Sonny Anderson who joined Spanish side of Villareal after his contract with Lyon ended in May.
Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said the club was set to sign a striker on Saturday but refused to provide any further details.
Lille also missed a great opportunity to wrap up the match when striker Mile Sterjovski hit the woodwork 15 minutes from time.
Lille coach Claude Puel said: “We have a very young team but they are gifted. It’s a very satisfying result.
On Saturday, title favourites Olympique Marseille are away to En Avant Guingamp while Monaco, second last season, face a stiff test at home against Girondins Bordeaux.
Real triumph
BEIJING: Real Madrid, with David Beckham making hisdebut, overcame the China Dragon select team 4-0 on Saturday before an ecstatic crowd.
Luis Figo, Fernando Morientes (twice) and Javier Portillo scored the goals for the Spanish champions in a fevered atmosphere.
More than 60,000 spectators waved five-starred Chinese flags and roared on their compatriots every time they broke down Real’s attacks and countered.
Beckham’s brightest moment came in the 20th minute when he curled a trademark free
kick towards the top corner only for goalkeeper Sun to punch the ball away at the last moment.—Reuters