Argentine Gonzalo Higuain scored a penalty five minutes into stoppage time as Real Madrid defeated neighbors Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday in a stormy derby where both sides finished with 10 men and referee Clos Gomez came in for some stern criticism.
Portuguese winger Simao thought he had salvaged a point after curling in a 90th minute free-kick to cancel out Ruud van Nistelrooy’s opener after just 32 seconds, but there was a twist to come. Higuain converted a penalty in the 95th minute at the Vicente Calderon to crush Atletico’s spirits ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League duel against Liverpool.
Atletico have lost four times already and their jinx against Real continues — they have not beaten their city rivals since 1999.
PHOTO: AP
“It is devastating to concede a goal in the first minute and another one in the 95th,” Atletico coach Javier Aguirre said. “I don’t think there is a mental problem, but now we have to pick the players up for the Liverpool game on Wednesday. We are doing well in the Champions League and this game deserves our full attention.”
Real, in Champions League action against Juventus tomorrow, took the spoils, but Schuster could not resist a swipe at the referee.
“There were some question marks over the referee as he seemed to be with the home side [Atletico] for the second half,” Schuster said. “That was a factor why we didn’t win 5-1. We scored a penalty in the final minute and fully deserved to win. Late goals happen in football and, as the saying goes, the game is not over until the referee blows his final whistle.”
After just 32 seconds, van Nistelrooy caught Atletico napping with a drilled shot to put Real ahead, but the Dutchman’s day went sour on 38 minutes when he was red-carded for a late tackle on Maniche.
“It was a mistake by the referee and I told him three times that it was just a yellow card,” van Nistelrooy said. “He also ruled out two perfectly good goals for us.”
Eight minutes earlier, Atletico had also been reduced to 10 men when referee Clos Gomez claimed Colombian defender Luis Perea caught Wesley Sneijder with a stray arm. Simao equalized, but Higuain had the final say in a game that had the spectators on the edge of their seats.
Confidence was low following Atletico’s 6-1 rout by Barcelona and Aguirre was relieved to welcome back first teamers Maniche and Diego Forlan. Atletico were desperate not to concede an ealy goal after the Barca debacle — when they conceded three goals in the first eight minutes — but that plan went out the window with van Nistelrooy scoring after just 32 seconds.
The former Manchester United man caught goalkeeper Leo Franco off guard with a fierce snapshot. Then on three minutes, Sneijder fizzed in a shot that Franco tipped on to the crossbar. It was a frantic opening and van Nistelrooy thought he had made it 2-0 after 20 minutes, but the effort was controversially ruled out for offside.
Minutes later Raul had the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside in another tight decision. Already against it Atletico gave themselves a mountain to climb when Perea was red-carded for catching Sneijder. It was hard to tell whether it was intentional, but the referee had no doubt and brandished a straight red.
Eight minutes later the numbers were evened up when van Nistelrooy was issued his marching orders. A late tackle on Maniche — who turned on the theatrics — saw Gomez pull out a red card when a yellow seemed more appropriate.
Simao thought he had saved Atletico from the jaws of defeat with his free-kick, but Atletico stupidly conceded a late spot-kick and Higuain’s penalty crept past the unlucky Franco.
Real sit second in the standings, with Villarreal a point ahead after a 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday.
Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez brilliantly saved a 70th minute penalty from Raul Tamudo to maintain his team’s unbeaten start.
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