03/03/2005
Owen and Carlos find perfect response for Real
Michael Owen hit his ninth goal of the
season while Roberto Carlos hammered a perfect response to the Spanish
terrace racists as Real Madrid beat Real Betis 3-1 to reignite their
title dream.
The win cut Barcelona's lead at the top to six points after the leaders
were held to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday by Espanyol.
Owen, handed a rare start by coach Wanderley Luxemburgo in place of club
skipper Raul who has been hit by flu, opened the scoring after just nine
minutes at the Bernabeu after a pass from Santiago Solari.
The Englishman had been paired with Ronaldo who had missed Saturday's
defeat at Deportivo through injury but it was another Brazilian World
Cup winner who got his name on the scoresheet next.
Roberto Carlos, named skipper for the night in the absence of Raul and
who was the target of 'monkey chants' from Deportivo La Coruna fans at
the weekend, showed no hangover from the abuse when he thundered in a
free-kick from just 12 yards for the second goal four minutes from the
break.
It was also the perfect way for the veteran defender to celebrate his
300th Spanish League appearance with the goal which came from an
indirect free-kick played to him by David Beckham.
Owen was relishing his opportunity to impress and should have added a
third when he was clean through on goal early in the second half but
blasted over the top with just the keeper to beat.
Real Betis pulled one back on the hour mark through Edu, beating Cesar
in the Real goal after regular keeper Iker Casillas had been injured in
the first half.
But it only spurred Real into a higher gear and Ivan Helguera headed in
a third just a minute later.
Villarreal moved into third place after a 2-1 win at home to Real
Mallorca with former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan grabbing the
winner six minutes from the end.
Forlan has found Spanish football far more to his taste as it was his
16th of the season, leaving him just two adrift of the league's leading
scorer Samuel Eto'o.
Defending champions Valencia and Sevilla, both chasing a Champions
League spot for next season, battled out a 2-2 draw with Jesuli giving
Sevilla a 40th minute lead.
David Navarro, on the stroke of half-time, and Argentinian international
Pablo Aimar, on the hour, then gave Valencia, who sacked coach Claudio
Ranieri last week, a 2-1 advantage.
Julio Baptista gave Sevilla a share of the points with a 67th minute
penalty.
Spanish football league standings after Wednesday's matches (played, won,
drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
