Madrid on top of the world
Real Madrid CF lifted the European/South American Cup for a third time after Ronaldo rekindled his love affair with the Far East by scoring the first goal as the European champions beat Copa Libertadores winners Club Olimpia 2-0 in the Yokohama International Stadium.
Real Madrid CF lifted the European/South American Cup for a third time after Ronaldo rekindled his love affair with the Far East by scoring the first goal as the European champions beat Copa Libertadores winners Club Olimpia 2-0 in the Yokohama International Stadium.
Ronaldo marked his return to the ground where he won Brazil the FIFA World Cup against Germany in June with the opening goal and substitute Guti added the second as Madrid ended their centenary year with a third trophy to add to the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup. This success followed victories over CR Vasco da Gama in 1998 and CA Penarol back in the inaugural edition in 1960, and it also gave Europe a 12-11 lead against their South American rivals since the contest moved to Japan
Madrid had not scored in their last three matches in Europe when Ronaldo was laid low by flu. Yet he took only 14 minutes to find a goal here. If Ronaldo was the scorer, the build-up showed Madrid at their best starting with a sublime touch from Zinedine Zidane in the centre of the pitch whose outside-of-the-foot flick sent Roberto Carlos charging down the left.
The Brazilian – who had tested Ricardo Tavarelli’s fingertips minutes earlier - played the ball in to the feet of Raul Gonzalez and his dummy opened the path to goal for Ronaldo. Shrugging aside a challenge from Nelson Zelaya, Ronaldo stroked the ball into the left-hand corner to stir memories of last summer.
Madrid’s second arrived 70 minutes later. Guti had only been on the field two minutes as a substitute for Ronaldo, when he got his head to a Figo cross to make sure of the victory.
It was not plain sailing for Vicente del Bosque’s side in between. Indeed there were early scares for Madrid while the game was still settling. Iker Casillas was grateful to gather the ball in his goalmouth after Peque Benitez’s free-kick had ricocheted about the box off Zidane's head and Claude Makele's leg.
The Madrid goalkeeper then saved low at his near post from Gaston Cordoba after a break down the inside-left channel. And after falling behind Olimpia very nearly managed an immediate, and spectacular, response only for Hernan Lopez's volley on the turn to rebound to safety off the post.
Zidane could have extended the Merengues' lead on 27 minutes when he ran unchallenged to the edge of the Olimpia box only to shoot over with a clear sight of goal. Olimpia should have drawn level six minutes before the break when Sergio Orteman's ball from the right left Benitez with a clear chance at the far post, yet the Paraguayan's low shot was clawed out by Casillas.
Into the second half and Ronaldo was close to a second goal on 53 minutes when his quick feet left Cáceres fixed to the spot but he dragged a low shot wide of the far post. Then, from a Figo corner, Raul and Ronaldo both failed to apply a decisive touch with the goal begging. Next Casillas beat out a Benítez shot while Tavarelli tipped over strikes from Roberto Carlos and Figo. Half-chances came and went but Madrid seldom looked too troubled and Guti made sure it would be their night.