Woodgate, Beckham inspire Real comeback win

Jonathan Woodgate put his nightmare start at Real Madrid behind him with a goal that sparked his side's 4-1 comeback win against Rosenborg Trondheim in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The English defender, who scored an own goal and was sent off on his league debut for Real last month, fired a bullet header into the net after 48 minutes to cancel out Roar Strand's first-half strike and set the Spaniards on the road to victory.

Woodgate, who spent his first 12 months as a Real player on the sidelines with a serious thigh injury, was treated to a standing ovation when he was substituted six minutes from time.

"I'm really happy, it was a good game and the goal was important for the team," Woodgate said. "For me it is great to be back and every game is important."

Skipper Raul notched his 51st goal in the competition to put Real in front four minutes later.

Ivan Helguera and David Beckham, who had another fine game in midfield, then weighed in with two more to complete an emphatic home win for the nine-time European champions.

The result gave Real six points from three games, three less than Group F leaders Olympique Lyon but three more than third-placed Rosenborg.

Although Real dominated possession for most of the first half at the Bernabeu, Robinho, Raul and Julio Baptista failed to take advantage of some good service from Beckham.

Rosenborg, struggling at home this season after winning the Norwegian title a record 13 times in a row, kept things simple, defending in numbers and then looking to play on the break.

Christer Basma had a great chance to give the Norwegians a shock lead midway through the half but the right back rifled wide of the post.

Real stepped up a gear soon after and had a string of chances to take the lead just after the half hour.

Zinedine Zidane had a close-range shot well saved by the alert Espen Johnsen after a goalmouth scramble, Baptista hit the bar moments later and Robinho volleyed wide after a neat turn on the edge of the area.

But Rosenborg silenced the Bernabeu when they took a shock lead five minutes before the break.

Oyvind Storflor sped down the left flank, picked out Strand with a superb curling pass to the far side of the area and the midfielder fired a low shot past Iker Casillas.

Real were still reeling from the blow when Woodgate went up into the area for a Beckham free kick four minutes into the second half and met the England captain's swirling cross with a classic header to settle his side's nerves.

Woodgate then ran over to the sidelines to embrace club doctor Alfonso del Corral, the man who had supervised his recovery programme from his career-threatening thigh injury.

"Dr Del Corral helped me in the bad times and it was great to celebrate my first goal with him," said Woodgate.

Four minutes later Raul put Real in front with a superbly worked goal, rounding Johnsen with some quicksilver footwork after Robinho danced his way through the Rosenborg defence.

Helguera, Woodgate's partner in central defence, added a third with another great header in the 68th minute, Beckham again providing the assist with a wonderful curling free kick from the left.

The England skipper then capped a brilliant performance when he sent a sweetly stuck free kick curling over the wall and past a helpless Johnsen eight minutes from time.