Roberto Carlos leads Real to Cup

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -- A stylish Real Madrid gained its first European Super Cup with a confident 3-1 victory over Feyenoord at Monaco's Louis II stadium Friday.

An own goal by the Dutch side's defender Patrick Paauwe, a strike by Brazilian star and man of the match, Roberto Carlos, and a header by striker Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez ensured that the nine-time Champions Cup winner avoided the fate of its two previous Super Cup games.

Four years ago, it was beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in the first Super Cup to be played in Monaco and in 2000, it lost 2-1 to Galatasaray.

"We have won a Cup which we really wanted. It was an excellent start to the season and great to lift the trophy in our centenary year," Madrid's coach Vicente del Bosque said after the game.

Striker Pierre van Hooijdonk scored the UEFA Cup holder's consolation goal with a second-half free kick.

"We were playing one of the best, and perhaps the best, team in the world. But perhaps we showed Madrid too much respect," Feyenoord coach Bert Marwijk said.

Del Bosque's team began the match more incisively and Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Zoetebier was called into action within the first 10 minutes to deny Portuguese star Luis Figo and Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.

The Spanish side took the lead its play deserved in the 15th minute when Paauwe deflected a low cross by Roberto Carlos past Zoetebier.

With both Figo and Zinedine Zidane showing some brilliant flashes despite Monaco's traditionally bumpy field, Madrid looked every inch the European champion in an excellent first half hour.

In the 21st minute, the Spanish side extended its lead with a wonderfully executed goal.

Cambiasso initiated the move, and following Guti's impudent back-heel, Roberto Carlos strode forward before curling the ball home from inside the area -- unusually with his right foot.

"Now everyone can see how well I can use the other one! But seriously it was great to score in a final and help Madrid to win a trophy it had never won," the Brazilian World Cup winner said.

However, roared on by its raucous fans, Marwijk's side dug down into its reserves and in the 39th minute Anthony Lurling's dazzling run ended with the midfielder shooting just wide.

Captain Paul Bosveld also fired over as Feyenoord ended the first half in better form than at the start.

"After a bad 20 minutes we started to ask ourselves where we had gone wrong. It was then that we started to improve," Marwijk said.

In the 52nd minute, Paauwe's unfortunate match continued when he was given a stern warning by Scottish referee High Dallas for a foul on star striker Raul Gonzalez.

Three minutes later, Feyenoord gained fresh heart when van Hooijdonk brought home a perfect free kick from the edge of the area.

The Dutch side's hope was short-lived as Guti, left unmarked at the far post, dived to head Madrid's third goal in the 58th minute.

Guti was in the starting lineup in place of international striker Fernando Morientes, who has been the subject of recent transfer speculation involving a move to Inter Milan -- as a possible makeweight for Ronaldo -- or to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

"Morientes may stay or he may go. All will be cleared up soon but he certainly wasn't in the right frame of mind to play," Del Bosque said afterward.

Another Van Hooijdonk freekick forced a good save from Iker Casillas in the 65th minute as Feyenoord never lost heart.

Madrid's victory was the first by a Champions Cup winner in the annual match since 1996.

Since 2000 the Super Cup has featured the winner of Europe's top trophy against the titlist of the UEFA Cup. From 1972-99 the Champions Cup winner played the Cup Winners Cup holder.

 

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