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| Sunday, 25 September 2011 10:12 |
Ronaldo nets hat-trick as Real hammer Rayo“Character shone through” - Mourinho Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid got back to winning ways following their recent brief slump with a convincing 6-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu last night. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo ended a run of three matches without a goal by getting his second hat-trick of the season.
Real came into the game having taken just one point from their last two La Liga matches, following defeat at Levante last weekend and a goalless draw with Racing Santander during the week. They would have to come from behind to beat Rayo, with Macho giving the visitors a shock lead inside a minute in the Spanish capital. Mourinho made an early change, subbing midfielder Lassana Diarra in favour of Mesut Ozil just before the half-hour mark, and Real drew level seven minutes before the break when Ronaldo beat Dani Gimenez with a left-footed finish. Gonzalo Higuain put the hosts ahead in first-half injury time, and Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot early after the re-start after Kaka had been brought down inside the area. Things became a little more complicated for Mourinho’s side when Michu pulled one back for Rayo with his second of the game, shortly before ex-Benfica winger Angel Di Maria was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for deliberate handball. However, after Raphael Varane put Real 4-2 up, further goals from Karim Benzema and Ronaldo - again from the penalty spot - made it a comfortable finish for the home side, who had been without Portuguese trio Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Fabio Coentrao. After the match, Mourinho spoke about his decision to make an early change in the first half. “ "When you've had a week's worth of negative results what the team needs is to have a good start, to score and to be relaxed,” he said. “Things get even harder when you're losing 1-0 as soon as the game starts, but character shines through in difficult situations and the team reacted. "We scored at the start of the second half and conditions were therefore good for us in order to be calmer and play better. Then they scored a goal in a situation I didn't like one bit. Set pieces are a basic part of football and we failed, therefore giving Rayo some life. We played well after their goal. We defended and our four-player lines were tighter and looked to counterattack. We deservedly defeated a side that showed why they won in the Second Divison last year and why they're having such a good run this season despite all the difficulties they've encountered. It was an important and unquestionable victory for us." |
Yes Messi is great, but that doesn't mean CR7 isn't.
The biggest difference is that Messi has been on Barca which has won everything.
By the way, penalties count.
These are probably the same that say deciding the game on penalties is ridiculous. They should continue to run themselves into the ground, and not decide the game on a gimmick.
Last time I checked Penalties are part of the regular game and actually happen often in the run of play.
Just ask John Terry...
Why do people hate Ronaldo so much? Because he has zero humility and thinks he's gods gift. Should I mention his comments about himself being good looking, a good footballer and rich? Grow up Ronaldo.