bhoybobby
07-20-2009, 08:31 PM
Shamrock Rovers 0 - 1 Real Madrid: Ronaldo and Real spared by Benzema
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Published Date: 21 July 2009
By Padraic Halpin
CRISTIANO Ronaldo wore the white of Real Madrid last night for the first time since his record move from Manchester United, playing 45 minutes in a 1-0 friendly win over Irish side Shamrock Rovers.
But it was fellow big-money signing Karim Benzema who spared the Spanish side's blushes, striking three minutes from time against a team who flirted with bankruptcy four years ago and whose highest earner pockets around 1,000 a week.
Every touch was booed by the 10,915 fans squashed into Rovers' Tallaght Stadium, where capacity was trebled to see Real's Galacticos who had trained for a week on the outskirts of Dublin.
Some tried to catch a glimpse of the world player of the year from nearby apartments, many with 190,000 for sale signs attached, roughly what Real's new No9 earns a week.
The Portuguese received a hostile reception and Rovers centre-half Pat Flynn sent the winger clattering to the floor after his first touches had sent him speeding past defenders in trademark style. With Kaka in Madrid alongside Real's other Confederations Cup representatives and Benzema starting on the bench, Ronaldo provided the only first-half evidence of Real's audacious spending spree of more than 200million.
Despite resting five leading players, the hosts matched their opponents in the first half, allowing only full-back Marcelo a clear sight at goal.
Ronaldo drew the biggest cheer of the first half when his free-kick went well wide and when a second effort tamely struck the wall 15 minutes later, the crowds taunts of 'Who are ya' grew louder. Ronaldo played no further part as new Real coach Manuel Pellegrini made nine changes at half-time.
Former Lyon forward Benzema was among the changes and after having a scuffed shot cleared off the line, he controlled a long ball expertly and coolly finished in the 87th minute to seal victory.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed Manchester City as a major threat to Manchester United's Premier League title.
Ferguson has watched as City have splashed out millions in the pursuit of glory but still can't see beyond Chelsea and Liverpool as the main threats for the title.
"Given all that has happened in the transfer market this summer, it is a different type of challenge we are facing," he said.
"Manchester City are getting all the back-page stories and they will hold that position for the rest of the season because there is a lot of interest in what they have done and a lot of speculation about whether it is going to work.
"But I cannot look at Manchester City as our main competitors. Liverpool and Chelsea are our main competitors."
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Published Date: 21 July 2009
By Padraic Halpin
CRISTIANO Ronaldo wore the white of Real Madrid last night for the first time since his record move from Manchester United, playing 45 minutes in a 1-0 friendly win over Irish side Shamrock Rovers.
But it was fellow big-money signing Karim Benzema who spared the Spanish side's blushes, striking three minutes from time against a team who flirted with bankruptcy four years ago and whose highest earner pockets around 1,000 a week.
Every touch was booed by the 10,915 fans squashed into Rovers' Tallaght Stadium, where capacity was trebled to see Real's Galacticos who had trained for a week on the outskirts of Dublin.
Some tried to catch a glimpse of the world player of the year from nearby apartments, many with 190,000 for sale signs attached, roughly what Real's new No9 earns a week.
The Portuguese received a hostile reception and Rovers centre-half Pat Flynn sent the winger clattering to the floor after his first touches had sent him speeding past defenders in trademark style. With Kaka in Madrid alongside Real's other Confederations Cup representatives and Benzema starting on the bench, Ronaldo provided the only first-half evidence of Real's audacious spending spree of more than 200million.
Despite resting five leading players, the hosts matched their opponents in the first half, allowing only full-back Marcelo a clear sight at goal.
Ronaldo drew the biggest cheer of the first half when his free-kick went well wide and when a second effort tamely struck the wall 15 minutes later, the crowds taunts of 'Who are ya' grew louder. Ronaldo played no further part as new Real coach Manuel Pellegrini made nine changes at half-time.
Former Lyon forward Benzema was among the changes and after having a scuffed shot cleared off the line, he controlled a long ball expertly and coolly finished in the 87th minute to seal victory.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed Manchester City as a major threat to Manchester United's Premier League title.
Ferguson has watched as City have splashed out millions in the pursuit of glory but still can't see beyond Chelsea and Liverpool as the main threats for the title.
"Given all that has happened in the transfer market this summer, it is a different type of challenge we are facing," he said.
"Manchester City are getting all the back-page stories and they will hold that position for the rest of the season because there is a lot of interest in what they have done and a lot of speculation about whether it is going to work.
"But I cannot look at Manchester City as our main competitors. Liverpool and Chelsea are our main competitors."