Real Madrid Leyendas 2-2 Barça Legends: Win on penalties in El Clásico
A show and a draw in the legends El Clásico (2-2). Barça Legends dominated the first half, with goals by Sorín and Ronaldinho with a exquisite free kick, while Real Madrid Leyendas scored two goals in five second half minutes through Figo and Edwin Congo to level up this well-contested match. The penalty shoot out to decide a winner saw Barça win 2-4.
Sorín strikes first
Expectations were high in the stadium with all the stars on show, but it was 'Chapi' Ferrer's blaugranes who shone first. Just eight minutes in Juan Pablo Sorín left his marker to pop up on the left after good work by Giuly (0-1, min. 8).
Ronaldinho rolls back the years
Only one word to describe the second goal - magic. Sounds silly but it's what we've come to expect from Ronaldinho. Three steps back, one to the side, and a free kick from the edge of the area curled into the top corner (0-2, min. 16) much to the delight of the Barça fans in the stadium, his team-mates, and of course Ronnie himself.
Already two goals to the good, and with attacking talents like Giuly, Villa, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho on the pitch, more could be expected. However, the all-whites sought to redress the balance, Edwin Congo having a goal ruled out for offside. Then Villa almost scored in the same corner of the net as Ronaldinho. A deserved 0-2 to Barça at half-time.
Ronnie almost grabs brace
Ronaldinho continued to perform for the 31,004 fortunate to be there to see it. He first set up Roger Garcia, whose snapshot hit the bar, before dribbling past Fernando Sanz and scooping the ball up over Contreras, only for it to drift just wide.
All-whites tie up the game
Luis Figo got Real Madrid back into the game shooting across Angoy (1-2, min. 58), before Edwin Congo made the most of an error to make it 2-2 (min. 63). Barça Legends clearly wanted to win the game though, with Quaresma and David Villa the targets, however the clearest chance fell to Patrick Kluivert. Luis Figo fouled Quaresma in the area and the referee blew for a penalty despite the all-whites' protests. Kluivert could have won the game for the blaugranes, but Contreras guessed right to save his spot kick.
Draw at full-time, Barça win on penalties
Still time for more in an eventful final few minutes, as Congo hit the bar with a header and then Quaresma went close after Jofre Mateu set him up. 2-2 at full time in this legends El Clásico, with every player giving their all as they did throughout the years in this famous fixture.
A penalty shoot out decided the game in the end, and despite Frank de Boer's penalty being saved by Contreras, Angoy saved from both Congo and Amavisca to ensure Barça won 2-4 on penalties.
Match stats
Real Madrid Leyendas 2
Barça Legends 2
Real Madrid Leyendas: Buyo; Núñez, Pavón, Fernando Sanz, Raúl Bravo; Milla, Seedorf, Figo, Savio, Amavisca; Congo. Also played – Contreras, Julio Llorente, Iván Campo, Agus, Júlio Baptista, Munitis and Álvaro Mejía.
Barça Legends: Vítor Baía; Fernando Navarro, De Boer, Abidal, Sorín; Trashorras, Mendieta; Giuly, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho; Villa. Also played – Angoy, Déhu, Kluivert, Roger García, Jofre, Sergi and Quaresma.
Goals: 0-1, Sorín (min. 8); 0-2, Ronaldino (min. 16); 1-2, Figo (min. 58); 2-2, Congo (min. 63).
Referee: Mohammed Al Mazyed.
More news here