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Rediff.com  » Sports » Solari lifts Real Madrid

Solari lifts Real Madrid

By Simon Baskett
November 11, 2004 11:41 IST
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A stunning last-gasp strike from Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari gave Real Madrid a 2-1 extra-time victory over Tenerife on another night of upsets in the King's Cup on Wednesday.

With the contest seemingly heading for penalties, Solari, who also scored Real's opener, smashed home from 30 metres out after a free kick to send his side into the third round.

While Real Madrid needed extra-time to squeeze through to the next round, Deportivo Coruna headed a lengthy list of Spanish Primera Liga sides who fell victim to lower-ranked opponents when they lost 1-0 at second division Elche.

Former Rayo Vallecano forward Roberto Peragon put an end to Depor's hopes of repeating their Cup triumph of three seasons ago as he fired home from 10 metres to finish off a lightning counter-attack in the ninth minute.

Levante, Racing Santander, Albacete, Malaga, Real Mallorca and Real Sociedad also lost, bringing the total of top flight sides who have been knocked out in the first two rounds to 12.

Four third division teams made it through to third round.

Gramenet, who knocked out league leaders Barcelona in the first round, continued their giant-killing exploits with a 2-1 comeback victory over high-flying Levante.

Mirandes claimed a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Real Sociedad, Lanzarote beat Hector Cuper's Mallorca 2-1 and Lorca came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Malaga and then clinch a 5-2 win in extra time.

HIGH-RISK STRATEGY

Real stuck to their high-risk strategy of resting some of their big names in the early rounds of the Cup, leaving Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul, Roberto Carlos as well as the injured David Beckham back in Madrid.

Instead coach Mariano Garcia Remon put his faith in the in-form Michael Owen and the out-of-favour Fernando Morientes to lead the attack, backed by a host of reserve team players.

But Morientes had a bad night, missing a 40th minute penalty and then going off with what appeared to be an ankle injury, while Owen was unable to continue his recent scoring run.

Two minutes after Morientes fluffed his spot kick the islanders took the lead when Argentine defender Daniel Fagiani fired home a deflected free kick.

However, Real hit back almost immediately with Solari sending Tenerife keeper Marian Keleman the wrong way when he swept a left-foot curler over the wall and high into the corner a minute before the break.

Real had a couple of chances to grab the win late on, but some sharp keeping from Keleman and brave last-ditch defending kept the visitors at bay and it was the islanders who looked sharper in extra time.

But it was Solari who had the last word and spared his side a nerve-racking penalty shoot-out when his brilliantly struck shot silenced the home crowd.

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Simon Baskett
Source: REUTERS
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