02.08.2002 - Match Report: Real Madrid 2-0 Liverpool
Real Madrid celebrated the start of their Centanary tournament with a comfortable win, as they outclassed an almost full strength Liverpool side.
Missing all of their Spanish Internationals and also Roberto Carlos, Real were the better team from very early on in the match, and came close to opening the scoring after 9 minutes, when Zidane hit the post with a scuffed shot from 10 yards out. A clean strike by the Frenchman would surely have put Real into an early lead.
Jerzy Dudek had a good first half, and after an outrageous 50 yard attempt by Figo which was well wide, Dudek was forced into making an excellent save from another chance for Zidane on 21 minutes.
Defending a free kick from the edge of the area and just a couple of yards from the goal-line, Liverpool expected a cross into the six yard box but Figo chose instead to play the ball along the ground to the feet of Zidane, who was stood near the penalty spot, and the strike by Zidane was aimed towards the top corner of the goal, but Dudek made a super save to force a corner.
Liverpool's best first half chance came via a free kick from the left hand side, but a decent cross by Murphy was missed firstly by Riise, and then by Hyypia and Diouf.
But it was a rare chance for the Reds, and on 35 minutes, Raul Bravo tested Dudek, forcing the Liverpool 'keeper into a theatrical save by firing in a powerful shot from the corner of the box.
A goal for Madrid was certainly not far away, and Luis Figo made sure that his club went into the break with the advantage. Figo, starting on the right hand side, ran at the Liverpool defence, and hit a low accurate shot inside Dudek's far post.
Bruno Cheyrou, Patrick Berger and Chris Kirkland were brought on at half time, but Real Madrid remained on top, and added a second goal on the hour.
Zinedine Zidane played a weel timed pass behind the Reds' defence, and Javier Garcia Portillo coolly slotted home number two.
From that moment on, there was no doubt as to who would be competiting in Sunday's final, and Real seemed happy to hold onto the ball and play the remainder of the match at a slow pace.
Two minutes of injury time saw no goalmouth action for either side, and the only pleasing thing to take from the game will be that Liverpool have no injury worries going into Sunday's third/fourth place play-off against the losers of AC Milan v Bayern Munich.
Final score: Real Madrid 2-0 Liverpool
Teams:
Real Madrid: Cesar, Salgado, Pavon, Ruben, Raul Bravo, Conceicao, Cambiasso, Figo (McManaman 54), Zidane (Fernandez 72), Savio (Solari 54), Guti (Portillo 54)
Goals: Figo (40), Portillo (60)
Liverpool: Dudek (Kirkland 45), Henchoz, Xavier, Hyypia, Vignal (Berger 45), Riise, Hamann (Carragher 76), Murphy, Smicer (Cheyrou 45), Diouf (Biscan 80), Heskey (Baros 61)
Goals:
|
