Ozil goal seals derby win for Real
Reuters - Friday 14 January 2011, 00:35
MADRID - A bizarre last-minute goal from
Mesut Ozil wrapped up a 3-1 comeback win for Real Madrid at
home to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday, giving them a
healthy advantage in their King's Cup quarter-final.
Atletico took a seventh-minute lead through Diego Forlan
only for Sergio Ramos to level with a header in the 14th as
Real dominated in an electric atmosphere at the Bernabeu.
Cristiano Ronaldo put the hosts ahead in the 61st and just
when Atletico looked like they might have weathered the storm
their defenders gifted Real a third in the 90th.
Luis Felipe stuck out a leg to divert the ball to
unsuspecting team mate Alvaro Dominguez who stumbled backwards
allowing it to run between his legs, and Ozil stepped in to
score past a motionless David de Gea.
"At 2-1 it was a good result. 3-1 is tougher to come back
from but not impossible," Atletico coach Quique Sanchez
Flores, who led them to the final last year, told reporters.
"After the players' efforts, to give away such an absurd
third goal is a double blow to morale."
Earlier, Almeria put their poor league form behind them
to beat Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 at home after Knut Rindaroy
deflected a low cross into his own net after 34 minutes.
Although the hosts dominated they failed to build on their
lead and the visitors struck the post through Lassad in the
second half.
On Wednesday, Barcelona thrashed second division Real
Betis 5-0 at the Nou Camp and holders Sevilla came back to
draw 3-3 at Villarreal. The second legs of all four matches
are next week.
REAL PACE
Atletico have not won a city derby since 1999 but grabbed
an early goal when Sergio Aguero sprinted away to be brought
down by Iker Casillas, only for Uruguay's Forlan to put away
the loose ball.
Television replays showed Aguero had started from an
offside position.
Real quickly took charge and after Ramos levelled at a
corner in the 14th minute they were utterly dominant as
Atletico struggling to handle the pace of their attacks.
On the hour mark, Forlan broke the siege to fire against a
post after a breakaway from Aguero, but Real edged ahead
almost immediately.
The outstanding Ozil set up Ronaldo to score at the
backpost and the Germany midfielder then forced the error at
the end and reaped the reward himself.41