Kaka returns to give Real victory
Source: Agencies |
April 26, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IN Spain, injured players are said to be "in dry dock" and the relaunch of Kaka after six weeks on the sidelines is welcome news both for Real Madrid's La Liga title bid and Brazil's World Cup hopes.
Doubts had been raised about the 28-year-old playmaker's commitment to Real as his absence with groin and adductor muscle problems dragged on, with some suggesting he was saving himself for the tournament in South Africa starting in June.
However, he silenced his critics on Saturday when he came off the bench with 15 minutes left and netted a clinical winner in a 2-1 victory at Real Zaragoza that lifted the Madrid club back to within a point of leader Barcelona with four games left.
"Jesus Christ was resurrected after three days and his follower Kaka needed 43," columnist Tomas Guasch wrote in As sports daily yesterday in reference to the Brazilian's devout Christian faith.
"Kaka returned to greatness with a goal that could be worth a league title," he added.
When he entered the fray on Saturday, Real was searching desperately for the goal that would keep alive its hopes of catching champion Barcelona, which beat basement side Xerez 3-1 at home in the earlier kickoff.
Kaka linked superbly with fellow new signing Cristiano Ronaldo, sprinting on to the Portuguese forward's clever pass, and slotted home with an angled shot in the 82nd minute before racing to the Real bench to embrace his ecstatic teammates.
"The truth is it was a very special night for me after a lot of criticism," he told reporters.
"I have been playing football for many years and the worst thing is for people to doubt my injury," he added. "The best answer I can give is on the pitch."
Substitute Raul put Real ahead after 50 minutes and in a heated atmosphere at Zaragoza's Romareda stadium the home side had defender Matteo Contini sent off soon after following a clash with Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Promoted Zaragoza, two points above the relegation places in 16th, fought back to level at 1-1 through Adrian Colunga in the 62nd before Kaka saved the day for big-spending Real.
The result lifted Manuel Pellegrini's side to 86 points, one behind Barcelona and 24 ahead of third-placed Valencia, which won 1-0 at home to Deportivo la Coruna thanks to David Villa's 34th-minute penalty.
At the Nou Camp, Jeffren Suarez and Thierry Henry put Barcelona 2-0 up before Mario Bermejo cut the lead in half with a rising shot in the 25th.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal re-established the two-goal cushion after Xerez was reduced to nine men.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola shuffled his lineup with Wednesday's Champions League semifinal match against Inter Milan looming and the European champion needing to overturn a 1-3 first-leg defeat.
Doubts had been raised about the 28-year-old playmaker's commitment to Real as his absence with groin and adductor muscle problems dragged on, with some suggesting he was saving himself for the tournament in South Africa starting in June.
However, he silenced his critics on Saturday when he came off the bench with 15 minutes left and netted a clinical winner in a 2-1 victory at Real Zaragoza that lifted the Madrid club back to within a point of leader Barcelona with four games left.
"Jesus Christ was resurrected after three days and his follower Kaka needed 43," columnist Tomas Guasch wrote in As sports daily yesterday in reference to the Brazilian's devout Christian faith.
"Kaka returned to greatness with a goal that could be worth a league title," he added.
When he entered the fray on Saturday, Real was searching desperately for the goal that would keep alive its hopes of catching champion Barcelona, which beat basement side Xerez 3-1 at home in the earlier kickoff.
Kaka linked superbly with fellow new signing Cristiano Ronaldo, sprinting on to the Portuguese forward's clever pass, and slotted home with an angled shot in the 82nd minute before racing to the Real bench to embrace his ecstatic teammates.
"The truth is it was a very special night for me after a lot of criticism," he told reporters.
"I have been playing football for many years and the worst thing is for people to doubt my injury," he added. "The best answer I can give is on the pitch."
Substitute Raul put Real ahead after 50 minutes and in a heated atmosphere at Zaragoza's Romareda stadium the home side had defender Matteo Contini sent off soon after following a clash with Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Promoted Zaragoza, two points above the relegation places in 16th, fought back to level at 1-1 through Adrian Colunga in the 62nd before Kaka saved the day for big-spending Real.
The result lifted Manuel Pellegrini's side to 86 points, one behind Barcelona and 24 ahead of third-placed Valencia, which won 1-0 at home to Deportivo la Coruna thanks to David Villa's 34th-minute penalty.
At the Nou Camp, Jeffren Suarez and Thierry Henry put Barcelona 2-0 up before Mario Bermejo cut the lead in half with a rising shot in the 25th.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal re-established the two-goal cushion after Xerez was reduced to nine men.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola shuffled his lineup with Wednesday's Champions League semifinal match against Inter Milan looming and the European champion needing to overturn a 1-3 first-leg defeat.
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