Real up the pace to cruise past Porto
01/10/2003
Real up the pace to
cruise past Porto
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OPORTO,
Portugal (AFP) - Real Madrid came from behind to cruise past FC Porto with a 3-1
victory in the Champions League group stage tie.
With
Raul only making a late appearance as a substitute and David Beckham absent with
an injury, Real drew on their awesomely deep squad to dominate the UEFA Cup
holders after trailing to a seventh minute goal from Costinha.
Ivan
Helguera brought Real level and Santiago Solari gave Real a half-time lead
before Zinedine Zidane, playing with a bandaged head wound, scored Real's third
with an exquisite half volley.
Porto
dominated the first 20 minutes and got an early reward when Real goalkeeper Iker
Casillas could only palm away a free kick from Deco and Costinha was well-placed
to head it in.
Casillas prevented Porto going two goals ahead when he was at full stretch to
save Derlei's close-range shot.
But
soon Real hit their stride and Helguera started and finished the move that
produced Real's equaliser, moving the ball out to Zidane who found Solari. The
Argentinian's cross was perfect for Helguera to nod the ball home, leaving
goalkeeper Vitor Baia rooted to the spot.
Real
missed a golden opportunity to take the lead ten minutes before half-time when
Ronaldo failed to connect with Luis Figo's cross.
But it
was not long before Roberto Carlos slid the ball to Solari, who side-stepped
Baia before sliding the ball into the net.
There
was a worrying moment for Real when Zidane's head made accidental contact with
the knee of Ricardo Fernandes, leaving blood spurting on to the turf. But the
Frenchman was soon back on the field sporting a head bandage in time to play the
final minutes of the half.
Porto's South African striker Benni McCarthy had the ball in the net just after
the second half started, but he was flagged offside.
Real
increasingly dominated as Porto shrunk into their own half and Figo probed
continually down the right.
When
he won a free-kick out wide he pulled it back for Zidane to meet on the bounce
and his clean shot passed through a crowded goalmouth and into the net on 67
minutes to make it 3-1.
Both
sides had further scoring chances and Casillas threw himself at a Edgaras
Jankauskas header to deny Porto.
As
Porto fans streamed out of the stadium exits, Raul replaced Ronaldo but his
first attempt at goal was an uncharacteristically misjudged lob which was far
too high.