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Woodgate, Beckham inspire Real comeback win
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-20 09:03
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.
STADIUM SILENCED
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.
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