Champions League - Ronaldo brace in Real win

Eurosport - Tue, 15 Sep 22:44:00 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from free kicks as Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a 5-2 win at FC Zurich despite a brave fightback from the rank outsiders.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Champions League FC Zürich - Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo Pepe / Foto: EFE - 0

The nine-times European champions appeared to be cruising in their first Champions League outing since their 250-million-euro spending spree when Ronaldo, Raul and Gonzalo Higuain scored in an 18-minute spell before halftime in the Group C game.

The Swiss champions hit back with two goals in a minute during the second half but two late goals restored Real's three-goal lead.

Portuguese forward Ronaldo, taunted by Zurich fans insulting him in Spanish, opened the scoring with a rasping free kick from the edge of the area, his third goal in as many games since his record £80 million move from Manchester United.

Raul slid in Higuain's angled shot seven minutes later to take his Champions League tally to 65 goals and Higuain, repeatedly overlooked by Argentina coach Diego Maradona, himself fired the third in first-half stoppage time.

But Zurich, who failed to test Iker Casillas in the first hour, suddenly came to life.

Xavier Margairaz converted a 64th-minute penalty after Casillas had upended Alexandre Alphonse. Immediately after that Silvan Aegerter headed another at the near post from a corner.

Ronaldo ended their comeback with a long-range effort in the 89th minute which slipped through goalkeeper Johnny Leoni's hands.

Guti completed the scoring when he chipped the ball over the advancing Leoni from around 25 yards in stoppage time.

Reuters

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

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  1. I love Ronaldo's soccer, He is the best player of­ our time.
    from Lums

    From m.leluma, on Mon 21 Sep 1:39PM

  2. f uck ronaldo utd for life

    From v.porter.1, on Sun 20 Sep 8:34PM

  3. Some pple are liar and hypocrite.They do not actualy­ apprecia8 good football/thing,why do they alway's­ attack Real Madrid?They don't see anything good in­ madrid player's,why? It would be hypocritical of­ me, to watch good football/match and say another thing.­ It's hypocrisy for pple like that to pretend not to­ have seeing good round leather football tactics from­ Madrid players, they should learn how to apprcia8.

    From Demola, on Fri 18 Sep 3:15PM

  4. nicole no.24 curl up into a ball and die, this story is­ for madridistas to enjoy last nights game and­ congratulate the team who cares what you dont like­ about modern football - your a woman you shouldnt be­ speaking about it it anyway, so go on one of YOUR teams­ stories and give us madrid fans peace

    From Alan, on Wed 16 Sep 5:54PM

  5. I am a United fan and I believe Ronaldo is best in the­ world and gutted he left for Madrid. Your team is great­ in attack and awful in defence. You will get hammered­ when you play the likes of Barca, Chelsea, Man Utd, and­ Liverpool because you are weak defnsively. Too much­ money spent in attack not enough in defence. i hope we­ draw uz in later stages. Guarenteed we will put uz out­ over 2 legs. Real will score loads but win nothing this­ year. Come to think of it whats changed!!!!

    From jeemy.wilson, on Wed 16 Sep 5:50PM

  6. go go ronaldo well done from a united fan

    From the-man-with-no-name, on Wed 16 Sep 4:26PM

  7. Ronaldo is the best player. HE is better then Messi.

    From Jerry, on Wed 16 Sep 3:21PM

  8. go boy

    From Vinsent, on Wed 16 Sep 1:56PM

  9. here in this match we can se how bad are real they only­ played against a small team not against chelsea or man­ utd and to get a victory they had to fight till the­ last minute

    From Johnluke E, on Wed 16 Sep 8:51AM

  10. I THINK CR9 IS GOOD AND EVERY ONE KNOWS HIM TO BE A­ FREE-KICK SPECIALIST WHICH HE HAD PROVED. DO NOT WORRY­ GUYS JUST TAKE FAITH CR9 IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE­ WORLD THE PRESENT RAINING WORLD CHAMPION

    From tashee15, on Wed 16 Sep 8:00AM

  11. ronald is sill a cheating diving gay!!!!!

    From jon, on Wed 16 Sep 7:51AM

  12. if Real win with the same scoreline against Chelsea or­ Man Utd or even both, then i offer to kiss the back­ side of every single player of the Real Madrid squad.

    From olasanni, on Wed 16 Sep 7:26AM

  13. Congs congs Man Utd

    From Minou, on Wed 16 Sep 6:14AM

  14. zurich is easier.. now wonder..

    From Ben, on Wed 16 Sep 6:13AM

  15. Johnny Leoni, that's the name of the goalkeeper­ that lost this game for Zurich. What the h*ll was he­ doing when Ronaldo took those 2 free kicks?! Not trying­ to save the, that's for sure. The guy must be g*y­ and secretly in love with Ronaldo or something. Come­ on! My 10 year old sister would have done a better job!­ That's how horrible Ronaldos free kicks were. They­ went right on the goalkeeper! But still this John-boy­ managed to let them pass him. UNBELIEVABLE!

    Luckily­ goalkeepers in La-Liga actually have some skills, and­ Ronaldo will fail this year, which makes me very happy.­ The people awarding him "player of the year"­ last year should be ashamed of themselves. Just because­ you score a lot of goals doesn't mean you're­ the best player in the world. But of course it's­ not about being the best, it's a popularity­ contest. About media value. About selling shirts.­ RONALDO stands for eveything I HATE about modern­ football!

    From Nicole, on Wed 16 Sep 6:07AM

  16. real were expected to win this.

    From penangan.milah, on Wed 16 Sep 5:33AM

  17. It was a team of Zurich without goalkeeper - so see no­ reason for Madrid fans to selbrate as if they beat a­ big team. Be patient. Marseille and Milan are not the­ same

    From Vesso D, on Wed 16 Sep 5:18AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A guy like CR wouldn't enjoy playing under Sir­ Whiskey Nose at OLD TOILET. Not for long, at least.

    From jabronibeater, on Wed 16 Sep 5:17AM

  19. Guys its FC Zurich nuff said...

    From carlos c, on Wed 16 Sep 4:20AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    nice one CR! Can see the improvement in you since you­ moved up from that toilet in Manchester. Now you are­ playing for a classy side with real ability.Good luck­ to you.

    From Koppite 1973, on Wed 16 Sep 3:02AM
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