Beckham blows hot and cold on losing competitive Real debut
25/08/2003
Beckham
blows hot and cold on losing competitive Real debut
|
England star David Beckham blew hot and cold on his
introduction to the competitive world of Spanish football when he set up a goal
before being substituted in Real Madrid's 2-1 Spanish Super Cup first leg loss
here to Real Mallorca.
Beckham, widely praised for the way he has knuckled
down to the challenge of a new career in Spain after his summer move from
Manchester United, started all four pre-season matches in Asia, only to be
slated for a poor showing in last week's friendly goalless draw at Valencia.
On Sunday, he began well enough, despite being
deployed in the centre of midfield with Portugal's Luis Figo outside him on the
right flank.
Pre-season, Beckham had largely featured on his
favoured right with Figo switching to the opposite flank.
Both men combined well for the opening goal of the
game beore a 20,000 crowd at the Estadio Son Moix, a Beckham corner from the
left travelling all the way through to Figo, who chested down and drove home on
19 minutes.
But Real then took their foot off the pedal and
were punished for their sloppiness, leaving them with work to do at the Bernabeu
in the return leg on Wednesday.
And by the time Real coach Carlos Queiroz reacted
by withdrawing Beckham for want-away French star Claude Makelele after 53
minutes Mallorca were leading 2-1 through goals from Dutch striker Arnold
Bruggink and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o.
Real's Brazilian forward Ronaldo had had a chance
to make it 2-0 in the 38th minute, curling the ball just wide after a breakaway.
But gutsy Spanish Cup winners Mallorca showed no
sign of being overawed by Real's superstar ensemble and after several near
misses they levelled seconds before the interval.
Beckham and company were largely being overshadowed
by Mallorca's Argentine midfield dynamo Ariel Ibagaza, and he held off Zidane
and Esteban Cambiasso, then played the ball through the legs of Francisco Pavon
for Bruggink to level.
Eto'o, once of Real, put the hosts ahead three
minutes after the restart, cracking a right-footed effort over the advancing
keeper Iker Casillas as a flat-footed Real back four gave him yards of space.
It was only after Makelele, who is demanding a
salary increase or a transfer, came on that Real assumed some shape as he began
to take a grip in deep midfield which had been overcrowded prior to his entrance.
"At least we have the advantage of the away goal,"
said Makelele, who would not be drawn on his long-term future, save only to tell
reporters: "I'm always happy to wear the white shirt of Real."
Beckham is meanwhile facing a club-versus-country
tussle with England due to face Macedonia in a Euro 2004 qualifier in Skopje on
September 6.
Three days later Real have a league game against
Villarreal but England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson can call on Real to release the
star before that game under UEFA rules.
Queiroz is set, however, to ask Eriksson to allow
Beckham to play and then join the England squad a day late.