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Group C Roundup Madrid shoots six past Genk; Roma held in AthensPosted: Wednesday September 25, 2002 5:23 PMUpdated: Wednesday September 25, 2002 7:23 PM
MADRID (Reuters) -- Real Madrid produced an irresistible attacking display to crush Champions League newcomers Genk 6-0 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday. Real were missing the French midfield pair of Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele, while Ronaldo's debut was put on hold because of a slight injury, but after a slow start the nine-times European champions ran out predictably easy winners. A two-goal burst in the final minute of the first half set the home side on their way. Guti's shot from the edge of the box was deflected in by Didier Zokora for the first and 30 seconds later Michel Salgado made it 2-0 with a neat turn and shot. Luis Figo added a third from the penalty spot 10 minutes after the break after Ivan Helguera was brought down and further goals from Guti, Albert Celades and Raul completed a confident group C victory. The result made it nine goals in two games for Real after they began their hunt for a 10th European crown with a 3-0 success at AS Roma last week. Genk started well enough but they were forced into ever more desperate defense as the first half wore on. Figo put a free kick just wide with Real's best early chance, while Santiago Solari and Celades also went close. Genk fought back and as the halftime whistle neared Beli Moumouni Dagano twice found himself in space on the right of the Real area only to miss the target each time. The Belgian side then self-destructed in the final minute of the first half. Guti's low shot from the edge of the box supplied the first, as the unfortunate defender Zokora stuck out a leg to deflect the ball past his keeper Jan Moons. Genk got into more trouble just inside their area half a minute later and the result was the same. Salgado took a short pass from Celades and produced a fine turn and shot to beat Moons at his left-hand post. Outclassed The second half was all too easy for Real, as the Belgians found themselves outclassed. Josip Skoko's wild challenge on Helguera 10 minutes after the break led to the third, Figo slotting past Moons from the spot. Guti had not been credited with Real's opening goal given the heavy deflection from Zokora but there was no doubt about the fourth as the striker picked up a loose ball just outside the box and beat Moons with an arrowed shot. Genk were at sixes and sevens and Real might well have doubled their advantage in the remaining 25 minutes. As it was they had to settle for two more, both inspired by Raul. The Spanish international striker set up the fifth, robbing the Genk defense and teeing up Celades for a sharp finish. Raul got the final goal himself, crashing in from 20 meters to set the seal on a victory that leaves Real firmly on course for a place in the second phase. Del Bosque: Efficiency and authority were keyReal Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque praised his side for their efficiency and authority in a 6-0 demolition of Genk in Wednesday's game. Del Bosque also had words of encouragement for Genk, though, after the Belgians held his side for 44 minutes only to concede two goals just before halftime and a stack more after the break. "Genk contained us well in the first half and the final result made them look a lot worse than they really were," Del Bosque said. "They were well organized, if a little inexpert in some areas. "We acted with real authority, though, playing efficiently and producing some extremely good football at times. We created lots of opportunities and if you do that you score lots of goals. "The important thing is we have three more points to help us go further in Europe." Genk coach Sef Vergoossen was disappointed his side had not been able to convert one of several chances in the first half. "For over 43 minutes I felt that Genk played well," Vergoossen said. "We were disciplined and were doing our job and I felt we could have scored at least one goal. "The team just couldn't get over the blow of the two goals just before half-time. "We tried to respond but we left further gaps at the back and you can't do that against a team like Real Madrid." Vergoossen accepted that the quality of Real's players had in the end settled the game. "We could never compete with the individual talent of the Real players," he said. "They played very well and created lots of problems." Summary Real Madrid 6 Genk 0 - result Champions League, Group C Scorer: Didier Zokora 44og, Michel Salgado 45, Luis Figo 55pen, Guti 65, Albert Celades 74, Raul 76 Halftime: 2-0; Attendance: 60,000 Teams: Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas; 2-Michel Salgado, 4-Fernando Hierro, 6-Ivan Helguera, 3-Roberto Carlos (15-Raul Bravo 70); 10-Luis Figo, 20-Albert Celades, 19-Esteban Cambiasso (9-Fernando Morientes 66), 21-Santiago Solari; 7-Raul (18-Javier Portillo 77), 14-Guti Genk: 1-Jan Moons; 18-Kevin Vanbeuren (3-Seyfo Soley 61), 2-Igor Tomasic, 4-Didier Zokora, 13-Akram Roumani, 6-Mirsad Beslija (30-Takayuri Suzuki 83), 22-Justice Wamfor, 10-Josip Skoko, 20-Koen Daerden, 8-Wesley Sonck, 9-Beli Moumouni Dagano (15-De Camargo 80) Referee: Knud Erik Fisker (Denmark) Roma draws a blank in AthensATHENS (Reuters) -- AS Roma ended their recent losing streak with a goalless draw at AEK Athens to earn their first Champions League point on Wednesday. After three consecutive defeats, Fabio Capello's side took a defensive approach against a home side hunting their first win in eight years in Europe's top club competition. With neither side prepared to commit players into attack it was 25 minutes before the first real chance as winger Vincent Candela and Gabriel Batistuta forced a double save from AEK goalkeeper Dionysis Hiotis. AEK rarely had a sight of goal in the first half and only Demis Nikolaidis's left-foot shot caused any concern for the visitors, for whom Damiano Tommasi and Emerson controlled the midfield. Emerson skied Roma's best chance after the break but it was the Greek side who upped the pace in the closing stages with Nikolaidis having a shot well saved by Francesco Antonioli. Home winger Vassilis Lakis was booked for diving in a controversial penalty box clash with Antonioli who also had to parry a fierce shot from substitute Dimitris Nalitzis. Candela came within inches of snatching the three points with the last kick of the match but his free kick shaved the outside of the upright. Capello rues lost chancesAS Roma coach Fabio Capello was left to rue missed chances after a goalless draw at AEK Athens on Wednesday left his team third in Champions League group C. "We had some bad luck and missed chances especially in the 92nd minute when [Vincent] Candela hit the post," Capello said. Capello refused to call the match a wasted opportunity and insisted that the Greek side were not easy opponents. "We should have respect for this team and especially this ground which is one of the toughest in Europe," he said. "In judging this result we need to look at the points table and remember that AEK created a lot of problems for us. "On the positive side we settled well and controlled the game for long periods." Home coach Dusan Bajevic refused to be drawn on a late penalty appeal turned down by English referee Graham Barber, who booked AEK forward Vassilios Lakis for diving. "I didn't have a clear view but I don't think Lakis deserved a booking," said Bajevic. Capello saved strong criticism for his young Italian striker Antonio Cassano who was given only three minutes after coming off the bench. "I had told him to warm up and he had just gone and sat down without my permission. He is a young player but he will have to learn," said Capello. "In our current condition a draw was a positive result for us," said Roma's Brazilian midfielder Emerson. "We had lost three consecutive matches and the game tonight was the start of a long road back for us," he added. Summary AEK Athens 0 AS Roma 0 - result Champions League, Group C Attendance: 12,500 Teams: AEK Athens: 22-Dionysis Hiotis; 32-Michalis Kapsis 19-Mauricio Wright, 5-Nikos Kostenoglou, 6-Thodoris Zagorakis, 10-Vassilis Tsartas (28-Milen Petkov 86), 17-Michalis Kasapis (31-Grigoris Georgatos 46), 21-Costas Katsouranis, 23-Vassilis Lakis, 11-Demis Nikolaidis, 30-Ilija Ivic (37-Dimitris Nalitzis, 65) AS Roma: 1-Francesco Antonioli; 2-Cafu, 8-Francisco Lima, 9-Vincenzo Montella, 11-Emerson, 13-Leandro (5-Jonathan Zebina, 48), 17-Damiano Tommasi, 19-Walter Samuel, 23-Christian Panucci, 32-Vincent Candela, 33-Gabriel Batistuta (18-Antonio Cassano, 90) Referee: Graham Barber (England)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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