Lights go out on Real in Albania
Reuters - Wednesday 20 January 2010, 21:35
TIRANA - Real Madrid were left in the dark
when they travelled to Albania to play a hastily-assembled team
in a friendly on Wednesday.
The Tirana stadium was plunged into darkness by a power cut
at the start of the second half of the match and the Real
players, including Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, had to wait for
an hour and 20 minutes for the electricity to be restored.
Real had been invited to Albania to play newly-promoted
first division side Gramozi, who had borrowed players from other
teams to boost their chances.
Gramozi are owned by oil businessman Rezart Taci and his
company paid Real more than two million euros for their 10-hour
trip to Tirana, in what critics said was an unwelcome addition
to a busy schedule for the Spanish team.
Angry fans shouted and threw lighters on to the pitch when
the lights went out. Unconfirmed reports said the stadium
manager had been sacked over the incident.
Real's Karim Benzema scored the winning goal in the 80th
minute after Gramozi's Daniel Xhafa had put the home side ahead
in the third and Kaka had equalised in the 37th thanks to a
cross from Ronaldo.
Captain Raul was the only Real player to stay for the
presentation of a cup, before leaving in a hurry surrounded by
bodyguards.
"At least all went well. The match took place, thank God,"
said former Albania international turned television commentator
Sulejman Starova.
"This is a warning that we should improve our
single real stadium."