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Real Madrid win 2-1
Ivan Helguera and Michael Owen both scored for Madrid as they came from behind to record a 2-1 victory at Albacete on Sunday in the Spanish League.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:50 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Albacete:
Ivan Helguera and Michael Owen both scored for Madrid as they came from behind to record a 2-1 victory at Albacete on Sunday in the Spanish League. Real Madrid went into this game desperate for a victory that would ensure they keep pace with league leaders Barcelona. A win would cut the deficit between the two teams to nine points. Raul was dropped to the substitutes bench with Michael Owen starting alongside Ronaldo for the visitors. David Beckham was out injured, and Zinadine Zidane was missing too through suspension. Pressing forward Ronaldo had a goal harshly disallowed in the opening minutes, before the home side began to press forward. The home side took the lead in the 10th minute. Pablo Redondo was the player on target and Madrid were a goal to nil down, Thomas Gravesen to blame for failing to clear the ball. But the visitors were soon back in the match, Ivan Helguera with the equaliser from the corner, despite Albacete complaining that the player had climbed to reach the ball by pressing down on one of the opposing players. Albacete had the worst home record in the Spanish League and were looking in danger of continuing that trend. Madrid's confidence now restored, they tried hard to take the lead. A free-kick from Roberto Carlos just after half an hour of play was struck well, but was brilliantly saved by Raul Valbuena and it remained one-all. Good play Then in first half injury time - Owen put Madrid ahead for the first time in the match with his tenth goal of the season. It was just what the visitors needed and justified the English player's inclusion in place of Raul. At the start of the second half however, the home side came close to levelling the scores again. But Iker Casillas was in sparkling form and defended brilliantly to keep Albacete at bay. Soon his opposing number was showing his goalkeeping skills to frustrate Ronaldo at the other end. Rewarding efforts Madrid were more or less just sitting on their lead, and the match was not greatly entertaining for the large crowd assembled. Redondo kept pressing forward however for the home side and was almost rewarded for his efforts midway through the second half. While in the dying minutes Roberto Carlos came close with a freak shot that Valbuena almost failed to save. That was to be the lost shot of the match as Madrid held on to their 2-1 lead to the whistle to gain a valuable three points. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
Football Real Madrid
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