Superb Figo pivotal as Real crush hapless Roma
Roma 0 - Real Madrid 3
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Luis Figo scored twice last night as Real Madrid stormed past a lacklustre Roma to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions' League.
Luis Figo scored twice last night as Real Madrid stormed past a lacklustre Roma to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions' League.
The game, played behind closed doors, saw the Spaniards establish an early lead they never looked like surrendering.
In the ninth minute Zinédine Zidane flicked the ball through to Ronaldo, who took it in his stride brilliantly and raced into the penalty area, before chipping it beyond the Roma goalkeeper, Ivan Pelizzoli.
They could have added another in the 22nd minute after Ronaldo outpaced Philippe Mexes only to shoot wide of the near post under pressure from the French defender. Roma, playing in an all-black away strip, were having much of the play even if most of the better chances were going Real's way. Soon after the half-hour they might have equalised, when Vincent Candela was unlucky to see a free-kick hit the crossbar and go behind for a goal-kick.
The second half started where the first had finished off with Real creating most of the openings. Hence it was no real surprise when the Spaniards doubled their lead on the hour after referee Rene Temmink - no stranger to important decisions having abandoned a game between ADO Den Haag and PSV Eindhoven in October after anti-Semitic chanting in the crowd - pointed to the spot.
That came after Ronaldo waltzed through a series of tackles before being dragged down in the penalty area by Roma's Traianos Dellas. Figo scored the resultant penalty.
The second Madrid goal took the wind out of Roma's sails, who looked to go through the motions for their last 20 minutes of European football this season.
The action, however, was not over. In the 82nd minute Figo controlled the ball brilliantly before flicking it past Dellas and hitting an unstoppable drive into the corner of the net for his fourth goal in six Champions' League games this season.
Soon after, the Portugese midfielder left the field just before Michael Owen, whose goals have been so vital to Madrid this year, came on. Last night, however, the work had been done.
* The Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes, reportedly a January transfer target for Liverpool, said he wants to join Monaco on a permanent basis. The 28-year-old Spanish international spent last season on loan at the French club, finishing as the top scorer in the Champions' League as Monaco reached the final where they lost to Porto.
Roma: Pelizzoli, Mexes, Ferrari, Dellas, Cufre, Perrotta (De Martino, 82), Aquilani, Candela, Mancini, Delvecchio, Corvia. Substitutes not used: Zotti, Sartor, D'Agostino, Cerci, Briotti, Simonetta.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Helguera, Samuel, Salgado, Carlos, Beckham, Zidane (Celades, 86), Guti, Figo (Pavon, 82), Raul, Ronaldo (Owen, 84). Substitutes not used: Cesar, Morientes, Bravo, Solari.
Referee: R Temmink (Holland).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments