tangazo

Monday, August 27, 2012

Getafe 2-1 Real Madrid: Barrada strikes to stun champions




 Goal from the Moroccan and Juan Valera cancel out Gonzalo Higuain's first half strike to heap misery on Los Blancos


Real Madrid has handed a five-point lead to Barcelona at the top of the Spanish Primera Division after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on Sunday evening.

Los Blancos took the lead halfway through the first half, but a two-goal salvo in the second period and a plucky performance from the hosts left Jose Mourinho's men without a win in their opening two games of the campaign.

Madrid cames within inches of opening the scoring 15 minutes into the match when Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo exchanged a couple of neat one-two's inside the Getafe box. The ball came back to the German six yards out and with the goal gaping he smashed a shot against the crossbar.

Ronaldo had the opportunity to take center stage five minutes later with a couple of free kick attempts towards Miguel Angel Moya. The Getafe goalkeeper had to be at his best for the second as it bounced wickedly a few yards from goal, but the 28-year-old kept concentration to palm the ball to safety.

Jose Mourinho's men eventually took the lead through a well-worked goal just before the 30-minute mark. Angel Di Maria dropped into a pocket of space just in front of the Getafe defense and slid a pass through to Gonzalo Higuain, who showed intelligence to ride the challenge of Alexis and take the ball past Moya before smashing home from a tight angle.

The battle between Moya and Ronaldo continued, and once again the Getafe goalkeeper came out on top just before the break. The Portguese had cut inside from the left-hand side and lashed a shot at goal from the edge of the box, only to be denied by a solid save.

The hosts came out of the blocks quickly in the second half, and with an added impetus in their play, managed to level the game in the 53nd minute. Abdel Barrada was the provider as he whipped in a cross from the right flank for Juan Valera at the back post, who powered a header past the rooted Iker Casillas.

Ronaldo tested Moya yet again in the 70th minute when he drifted into a central area and flicked up the ball on the edge of the box, but his snatched volley bobbled into the hands of the Getafe goalkeeper, with the Real Madrid man cutting a frustrated figure.

Jose Mourinho looked to be going for broke, with the introduction of Karim Benzema in place of Diarra, but the added space in dangerous areas for Getafe lead to the hosts taking the lead fifteen minutes from time. Substitute Adrian Colunga left Albiol for dead down the left and drove forward before sliding a pass inside to Barrada who took a touch then smashed the ball past Casillas.

This result leaves Real Madrid 14th in the league with just one point taken from the opening two matches. Getafe has earned its first win of the season and move on to three points in the Spanish Primera Division.

No comments:

Translate