The Cup dream comes to an end
Real Madrid 0-1 Mallorca
January 16, 2008 -Mallorca may have only had four opportunities on goal on Wednesday, but they were enough to eliminate a Real Madrid squad who never surrended from start to finish. The Whites' dreams of progressing in the Copa del Rey were dashed in a mere second when Ibagaza successfully lobbed the ball over Dudek and into the back of the net.
Real Madrid had a new look to it as it took to the Bernabéu pitch on Wednesday. Sergio Ramos returned to the center of the back line after serving his one game suspension. Drenthe earned a starting role along the left wing as Schuster sat Robinho for the start of the match. Finally, the Guti-Gago tandem was given the task of paving the way to goal via the Baptista-Saviola attacking duo.
Mallorca presented no major surprises. Dani Güiza was unavailable due to injury, while Arango and former Madridista Borja Valero were given the nod to start.
Offensive onslaught
Real Madrid could very well have played their first best half of any match this season. They had their heads in the game from the moment they walked out the tunnel and they threatened Mallorca's box nearly every three minutes. Saviola began the assault with a one-on-one that Moyá cleared to corner (2’). Guti put the ball into play and it landed directly in front of Higuaín, but the Argentine's shot was cleared off the line by the defense (3’).
The match only grew more intense as the minutes ticked off the clock. Higuaín had another go three minutes later after receiving a pass from Drenthe, but the forward sent the ball straight into the stands. Real Madrid were far superior than the islanders, who appeared to be more than satisfied to defend the result from the first leg in Ono Estadi. Whatever the case may be, the Whites were thirsty for blood. Guti opened up running lanes from the center circle and Real Madrid had one chance after the next. Soon after the first quarter-hour was up, Cannavaro served a tremendous pass to Saviola, who tried his luck from the edge of the box only to be denied again by Moyá.
The more the ball failed to find the back of the net, the more the Madridistas pushed ahead. Saviola struck again from the top of the box but sent the ball out of play (22’). Three minutes later, Moyá cleared another ball following Higuaín's pass to Saviola (25’). Real Madrid looked comfortable on the pitch, they recovered the ball and passed with patience, and they created endless opportunities in search of a ticket to the quarterfinals. There was plenty more action before the half. Higuaín shot from the top of the box (34’), then hung a ball into the area that Baptista wasn't able to reach (35’), and then was stymied by the Mallorca keeper after another try on goal (42’). Amid all the action, Saviola was injured and replaced by Van Nistelrooy after halftime. Dudek wasn't tested once.
Football injustice
Real Madrid didn't ease up the gas after the break, but Mallorca must have realized that it was only a matter of time before the Madridistas would strike gold. The islanders began sweating bullets, but the hosts kept it in high gear and quickly managed their first opportunity; a sensational pass by Guti to Higuaín which the Argentine struck across the box to no avail (50’). Minutes later, a galloping Míchel Salgado crossed in a perfect ball for Van Nistelrooy, but the visiting keeper was again in the right place at the right time (54’).
Tired and nervous, Mallorca gave the ball away time and again in their attempt to sneak by Dudek. The midfield battle was a lost cause for the islanders, while Madrid insisted on striking with counterattacks. Robinho came off the bench, forcing Drenthe to the right wing. The 90-minute mark approached and Gregorio Manzano's men had fear in their eyes; they only appeared collected when Ibagaza had possession of the ball. And it was precisely Ibagaza who would have the final say. Varela found the forward who had beaten Cannavaro, and the Argentine lobbed it over a charging Dudek to shatter the Madridistas' Cup dreams.
MATCH REPORT:
0- REAL MADRID: Dudek; Salgado, Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo; Higuaín (Robinho, 64’), Gago, Guti, Drenthe (Sneijder, 76’); Saviola (Van Nistelrooy, 45’) and Baptista.
1- MALLORCA: Moyá; Varela, Ballesteros, Ramis, Navarro; Besinas, Borja Valero, Tuni (Víctor, 58’), Jonás; Trejo (Ibagaza, 45’) and Arango (Pereira, 86’).
REFEREE: Luis Medina Cantalejo. Booked Arango (44’), Guti (51’), Jonás (68’), Baptista (72’), Borja Valero (78’), and Van Nistelrooy (90’).
GOALS:
0-1, min.82: Ibagaza lob over Dudek.
NOTES: Return leg of the Copa del Rey Last 16 played at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Match report by Laura Navas
hotos by Alejandro González
Translation by Matthew Goltz
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