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Woodgate, Beckham inspire Real comeback win
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-20 09:03
MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Jonathan Woodgate put his nightmare start at Real
Madrid behind him with a goal that sparked his side's 4-1 comeback win against
Rosenborg Trondheim in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The English defender, who scored an own goal and was sent off on his league
debut for Real last month, fired a bullet header into the net after 48 minutes
to cancel out Roar Strand's first-half strike and set the Spaniards on the road
to victory.
Woodgate, who spent his first 12 months as a Real player on the sidelines
with a serious thigh injury, was treated to a standing ovation when he was
substituted six minutes from time.
"I'm really happy, it was a good game and the goal was important for the
team," Woodgate said. "For me it is great to be back and every game is
important."
Skipper Raul notched his 51st goal in the competition to put Real in front
four minutes later.
Ivan Helguera and David Beckham, who had another fine game in midfield, then
weighed in with two more to complete an emphatic home win for the nine-time
European champions.
The result gave Real six points from three games, three less than Group F
leaders Olympique Lyon but three more than third-placed Rosenborg.
Although Real dominated possession for most of the first half at the
Bernabeu, Robinho, Raul and Julio Baptista failed to take advantage of some good
service from Beckham.
Rosenborg, struggling at home this season after winning the Norwegian title a
record 13 times in a row, kept things simple, defending in numbers and then
looking to play on the break.
Christer Basma had a great chance to give the Norwegians a shock lead midway
through the half but the right back rifled wide of the post.
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