Print

Mail

wiki links

FC Barcelona, Sevilla end in draw after late header

FC Barcelona's Luis Enrique, left, is attacked by Sevilla's Javi Navarro in an altercation during their Spanish League soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Ronaldinho scored his first league goal in the second round of the Spanish league as FC Barcelona was held to a 1-1 draw by Sevilla while a late header by substitute Antonio Nunez from a David Beckham corner earned a depleted Real Madrid a 1-1 draw at Villarreal.

Ronaldinho, a Brazilian international who came to Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth up to US$32.6 million, netted the equalizer in the 58th minute Tuesday.

Jose Antonio Reyes had given Sevilla an early lead with a ninth-minute penalty.

FC Barcelona, struggling to rebuild under a new president after a dismal season last year, beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in its first match.

In Madrid, Beckham used his crossing skill to provide Nunez with his first league goal for the defending champions, who were trailing after an unstoppable 71st-minute volley by Brazilian substitute Sonny Anderson.

In other games, a header by midfielder Ruben Baraja gave Valencia a 1-0 victory at Osasuna, while last season's runner-up Real Sociedad drew 1-1 with Celta de Vigo.

Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla each have four points from two matches and head the standings ahead of the remaining six second-round matches.

Beckham's deadball kicks were well to the fore in an untidy match, littered with fouls, which was illuminated by Anderson's goal.

Madrid's No. 23 gave a patchy display, although he created danger with a series of freekicks which forced Villarreal goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina to punch the ball on repeated occasions.

Beckham, playing in the center of midfield, made his first notable contribution with a lofted free kick in the 18th minute which Madrid center half Ruben Gonzalez headed just wide.

Madrid, which was already without Brazilian stars Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, who were on international duty, was hit by the loss of Zinedine Zidane with a right thigh injury in the 26th minute.

The absence of the French star, who was replaced by Argentine Santiago Solari, spurred Madrid into action, with Beckham becoming more involved.

After taking several free kicks and corners, the star midfielder received a yellow card in the 41st minute for a high-footed challenge on Argentine left back Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

Madrid came close through central defender Francisco Pavon -- from a Beckham corner -- and right back Michel Salgado, which each hit the crossbar early in the second half, although the champions were then rocked by Anderson's spectacular goal.

The Brazilian striker, who replaced Spanish international Jose Mari Romero two minutes earlier, held off central defender Ruben Gonzalez before swiveling to hit home a fierce volley from a narrow angle.

Madrid relied on Beckham as it piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer and got a deserved draw in the 85th minute when Nunez, who had replaced striker Javier Portillo, headed home courtesy of a light deflection off Arruabarrena.
This story has been viewed 2941 times.