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Home  » Sports » Ronaldo, Figo see Real through

Ronaldo, Figo see Real through

January 14, 2004 11:50 IST
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Second-half goals from Ronaldo and Luis Figo earned Real Madrid a 2-0 win at home to second division Eibar on Tuesday and a place in the quarter-finals of the King's Cup.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Real were under pressure for much of the return until Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 58th minute.

Eibar continued to threaten, but a Figo free-kick 10 minutes later settled the contest, giving Real a 3-1 aggregate win.

Apart from the injured David Beckham and Raul, Real fielded their strongest line-up, including Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Figo, but it was Eibar who made the better start.

The visitors created three good chances inside the first three minutes, the best of which saw midfielder Francisco Corredoira crack a half-volley over the bar.

Gaizka Saizar was then put through but failed to get behind his shot and Real keeper Iker Casillas was able to clear.

At the other end the Eibar defence did an expert job in stifling Ronaldo and Real only threatened from set pieces, keeper Garikoitz Basauri reacting sharply to turn successive Zidane free kicks around the post.

Eibar should have taken the lead in the 57th minute when Roberto Cuevas found himself free at the far post only to hoist the ball over from two metres out.

A minute later Real went ahead. Roberto Carlos beat the offside trap with a run down the left and curled in a precise pass for Ronaldo to guide in unopposed.

Real made sure of the victory 10 minutes later when Figo curled a free kick around the wall and in at the keeper's near post.

Barcelona, 1-0 down after a first leg away to Levante, will also have a tough task on their hands when they play the second division promotion candidates at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

League leaders Valencia, who drew 2-2 at home to Osasuna, will also have plenty to do in another of Wednesday's second leg games.

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Source: REUTERS
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