Woodgate banishes own goal demons
Jonathan Woodgate scored his first goal for Real Madrid from a cross from David Beckham as the Spanish giants beat Rosenborg 4-1 at the Bernabeu.
Making his Champions League debut for Madrid, the former Newcastle and Leeds defender produced a towering header to equalise three minutes into the second half after the home side had trailed to a first-half goal from Roar Strand.
Woodgate’s goal began a second-half fightback which saw Madrid go from the possibility of another embarrassing European setback to a comfortable Group F win in 45 minutes.
Raul put them in front after 52 minutes before England captain Beckham set up Ivan Helguera for 3-1 and then capped a fine personal performance by scoring a magnificent free-kick eight minutes from time.
Woodgate, who scored an own goal on his Primera Liga debut and another in a recent friendly in Zaragoza, earned a standing ovation when he was substituted five minutes from time.
Real are now in second place in Group F behind French champions Lyon, who maintained their 100% record with a 2-1 win at home to Olympiacos.
Juninho curled one of his trademark free-kicks for the opener, but Gerard Houllier’s men needed a late goal from Sidney Govou after Pantelis Kafes equalised for the Greeks.
Porto revived their hopes with their first points of the campaign as they beat group leaders Inter Milan 2-0 at the Estadio do Dragao.
An own goal from Marco Materazzi and Benni McCarthy’s strike earned the points.
Porto, European champions in 2004 under Jose Mourinho, are still bottom of Group H but are now within reach of the other three teams at the halfway stage after Rangers and Artmedia Bratislava shared a goalless draw at Ibrox.
In Istanbul, Fenerbahce and Schalke drew 3-3, but last season’s beaten finalists AC Milan are still top of Group E despite being held 0-0 by PSV Eindhoven.
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