Hard-fought draw puts Roma through
AS Roma secured a place in the second stage of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Group A, but the visitors will be disappointed not to have secured a win.
AS Roma secured a place in the second stage of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Group A, but the visitors will be disappointed not to have secured a win.
Controversial penalty
Fabio Capello's side took the lead against the run of play in the first half but were incensed at the penalty decision which gave the Spanish champions their equaliser after 75 minutes. Substitute Aldair was adjudged to have blocked Fernando Morientes' speculative overhead kick with his hand and referee Hellmut Krug pointed to the penalty spot.
Confident finish
Portuguese international Luis Figo confidently strolled up to the penalty spot and checked his run before sending Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli the wrong way and leaving the ball nestled in the bottom left-hand corner of his goal.
Rough justice
It was rough justice for the goalkeeper who had performed superbly throughout the game to keep Real at bay, but it was more down to wasteful finishing than poor goalkeeping that Roma took the lead in the first half.
Open goal
Real missed a host of chances in the first half as they kept Roma under siege in their own penalty area. Defender Francisco Pavon Barahona headed a Figo cross wide after eight minutes while Raúl González contrived to miss an open goal on 30 minutes after Morientes's pass had left Antonioli stranded.
Well-worked goal
The home side were punished for their profligacy after 35 minutes when Roma broke away to score a well-worked goal. Vincent Candela darted into the right and passed the ball around goalkeeper César Sánchez at the near post for Francesco Totti to score with a tap-in.
Batistuta goes close
Roma lived on their nerves for the remainder of the first half but after the restart it was their turn to miss good chances. Gabriel Batistuta went close with two headers, and was unlucky not to put Roma 2-1 up after 58 minutes when his fierce 25 metre free-kick slammed into the Real crossbar with Sánchez well-beaten.
Delight for Roma
Their equaliser gave Real increased confidence and Roma were made to hang on grimly for the final minutes of the game, but despite their disappointment at the result, Fabio Capello's side were able to celebrate their progression to the next stage at full-time as they learned that their closest Group A rivals, RSC Anderlecht, had been beaten 5-1 at home FC Lokomotiv Moscow.
Unassailable lead
Real, meanwhile, were able to confirm their status as group winners as their haul of 13 points gives them an unassailable lead at the top of the table.