Ronaldo nets Copa del Rey for Real Madrid

Football

Published: 21 Apr. 2011, 20:08

Ronaldo nets Copa del Rey for Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates in front of Barcelona fans after scoring against FC Barcelona during the final of the Copa del Rey soccer match at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

VALENCIA, Spain - Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the winner in extra time as Real Madrid ended an 18-year Copa del Rey trophy drought with a 1-0 victory over biggest rival Barcelona on Wednesday.

Ronaldo guided Angel di Maria’s 103rd-minute pass back across goal and past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto into the top corner as Madrid won silverware for the first time since a 2007 Spanish league title.

“It was a very tough game, Barcelona played very well, but, as you know, whoever scores wins,” Ronaldo said. “We are very happy, Madrid had not won this cup for many years.”

Coach Jose Mourinho bowed before King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia as he received his mini-trophy, while Madrid goalkeeper Casillas hugged the pair before using the king as support to climb up on a support and hoist the trophy high.

“A great game of football,” Mourinho said after bringing silverware to the club in his first season, while Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola saw his side fail for the first time with a trophy on the line under his stewardship.

“It’s always better to win than lose, but we have to recover because that’s life. Life has its knocks too,” Guardiola said. “Will we pick ourselves up from this? Of course.”

Barcelona gets its first chance next Wednesday when the teams meet for the first of a two-legged Champions League semifinal series.

Madrid dominated the first half and then relied on Casillas’ second-half stops as Barcelona took control in an electric atmosphere at the Mestalla Stadium.

“We proved to everyone we can beat any team we want,” said Casillas, who helped Spain win its first World Cup last year.

Madrid’s 18th domestic cup also ends a six-game winless run against Barcelona, which lost for only the 10th time in its 35th final appearance.

The winning players practically roared after the final whistle sounded.

“We are very happy, because we knew that we could,” said Di Maria, who was sent off late as Madrid finished with 10 men against Barca for the second time in five days. The red card had no influence on the outcome.

“[The key] was the force of the group and the way we wanted to win this game.”

Madrid fullback Marcelo played the ball into the left side of the penalty area and Di Maria beat Daniel Alves to the ball. The Argentine forward found Ronaldo at the far post for the winner at the site of both clubs’ last cup win.

Madrid took the second of four meetings in 18 days between the fierce rivals; they still must play the two-legged Champions League semifinal.

Barcelona had won three of the five previous cup finals between the two, including the last one in 1990.

The charged atmosphere for the ninth cup final at the Mestalla might have played a hand in a frantic and physical first half dominated by Madrid, which disrupted Barcelona’s cool with constant pressure. The Catalans didn’t manage a shot on goal until the second half as they abandoned their slick passing game for long balls.

Madrid created chances off the break as expected, with Mesut Oezil picking up where he left off in Saturday’s 1-1 draw by creating Madrid’s best opportunities. But the Germany playmaker missed his own in the 11th minute after hesitating.

Pinto remained alert as he stopped Ronaldo’s hard shot in the 36th. Madrid nearly capped its strong first half in the 44th as Pepe got over Daniel Alves to meet Oezil’s cross, but his header slammed off the near post.

Barcelona was more composed after the restart as it worked the ball around to set up Villa’s dangerous shot in the 51st. Messi and Daniel Alves neatly combined minutes later as the Spanish champions rediscovered the possession game that helps them thrive.

Mourinho, meanwhile, screamed at Ronaldo for skirting his defensive duties.

Messi was booked for blocking a free kick in the 64th as the teams’ two stars, who have now combined for 90 goals this season, found it hard to show off their offensive talents. Until Ronaldo won it.

AP

한글 관련 기사 [조이뉴스24]

‘호날두 결승골’ 레알, 바르샤 꺾고 국왕컵 들어올려

`꿈의 4경기` 중 두 번째 경기 승리의 기쁨은 왕가 레알의 몫이었다.

스페인 프로축구 프리메라리가의 명문 레알 마드리드가 크리스티아누 호날두의 결승골로 숙적 FC바르셀로나를 꺾고 국왕컵을 들어올렸다.

레알 마드리드는 21일 오전(한국시간) 스페인 발렌시아의 메스티야 스타디움에서 열린 바르셀로나와의 `2010~2011 코파 델 레이(국왕컵)` 결승전에서 연장 전반 터진 호날두의 골로 1-0 승리를 거두고 우승했다.

라이벌을 상대로 짜릿한 승리를 맛본 레알은 지난 1993년 이후 18년 만에 국왕컵 우승이라는 감격을 누렸다. 동시에 트레블(정규리그, 국왕컵, 챔피언스리그 3관왕)을 노렸던 바르셀로나의 꿈도 지워버렸다.

`엘 클라시코`라 불리는 양 팀의 일전답게 치열하게 전개됐으나 경기 스타일은 확실히 달랐다. 실리축구에 가까운 레알은 조제 무리뉴 감독의 전략대로 수비를 튼튼히 한 뒤 역습을 시도하며 골을 노렸다.

바르셀로나는 리오넬 메시의 개인기를 바탕으로 짧은 패스와 함께 쉼없는 움직임으로 레알을 괴롭혔다.

전반은 레알의 흐름이었다. 호날두와 메수트 외칠의 슈팅이 골대를 외면했고 44분 페페의 헤딩슛은 골대에 맞고 나오는 등 아쉬움이 있었으나 레알은 바르셀로나의 약점을 잘 파고들었다.

숨죽이며 전반을 보낸 바르셀로나는 후반 들자 공격이 살아났고 5분 페드로의 슈팅을 시작으로 15분 메시가 골대를 아슬아슬하게 빗나가는 슛을 날리는 등 공격을 퍼부었다. 24분에는 페드로가 골망을 흔들었지만 오프사이드 판정을 받아 선제골 기회를 날렸다.

결국 승부는 연장에 가서야 갈렸다. 호날두의 움직이며 살아나면서 레알의 공격이 풀려갔고 골 기운이 감돌았다. 기대대로 호날두는 연장 전반 13분 앙헬 디 마리아의 가로지르기를 헤딩 슈팅으로 연결, 결승골을 터뜨리며 우승컵을 가져왔다.

양 팀은 지난 17일 정규리그 32라운드에서는 1-1로 비겼다. 국왕컵을 레알이 가져가면서 오는 28일과 5월 4일 열리는 유럽축구연맹(UEFA) 챔피언스리그 4강 1, 2차전의 맞대결 결과에 더 큰 관심이 쏠리게 됐다.