Two for Ronaldo as Real romp past Hong Kong
|
 13/08/2003
Two for
Ronaldo as Real romp past Hong Kong
|
HONG KONG (AFP) - Two goals from Ronaldo helped
Real Madrid record a comfortable 4-2 victory over a Hong Kong XI on the latest
leg of the Spanish giants' Asian tour.
Brazilian World Cup star Ronaldo struck in the 13th
and 34th minutes as Real turned on the style with some dazzling attacking
football to delight a sell-out 40,000 crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium.
But while Real's superstar attackers always
threatened in front of goal, the Spaniards' defensive frailty was exposed by a
makeshift Hong Kong side, bolstered by the presence of several mainland Chinese
players.
The Hong Kong XI embarrassed Real to score twice,
China's Wang Peng heading home on 26 minutes before Li Yao rifled a shot home
from close range on half-time.
Yet Real always had plenty in reserve, with new
signing David Beckham, French playmaker Zinedine Zidane, Portugal's Luis Figo
and skipper Raul showing some wonderful touches throughout.
Figo opened the scoring with a penalty on seven
minutes, coolly placing his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner after
Hong Kong's Lee Wai-man was adjudged to have tripped Roberto Carlos.
Ronaldo added his first six minutes later,
bamboozling his marker with three step-overs in quick succession before
thundering a low shot past Chinese international goalkeeper An Qi on the
near-post to make it 2-0.
But Real were jolted out of their easy early stride
midway through the half.
A rare foray upfield earned Hong Kong a corner, and
Chinese international Wang rose from Li Ming's cross to head home as Real keeper
Iker Casillas flapped.
Normal service resumed within minutes though.
Raul made it 3-1 to Real on 34 minutes with a
delicate chip over An from a tight angle before Ronaldo notched his second --
courtesy of a raking 50-metre ball from Beckham -- a minute later.
With Real replacing most of their star names in the
second half the game petered out. Raul went close with an audacious 40-yard chip
that hit a post, while Ronaldo squandered a string of chances.
Real complete their four-match tour of Asia with a
game against Thailand in Bangkok on Sunday.
