Gift goal puts Real on way

REAL MADRID booked their place in the next round of the Champions League, but they needed a farcical own goal from Banel Nicolita to see off battling Steaua Bucharest.

Real had been unable to break down a resilient Steaua backline themselves but were gifted the only goal of the game by a horrendous error from Nicolita 20 minutes from time.

Steaua goalkeeper Cornel Cernea had moved away from his goal to receive the back pass but Nicolita, with no Real player anywhere near him, inexplicably rolled the ball back towards goal and into the unguarded net.

That proved to be the deciding incident of the game, and with Lyon beating Dynamo Kiev in the other Group E match, Real’s place in the next round was secure.

The defeat was tough on Steaua, who had more than matched their opponents for large parts of the game in the intimidating arena.

Backed by a vocal and sizeable following at a sold-out Bernabeu, Steaua limited Real to only a couple of long-range shots early on while they looking dangerous themselves.

The visitors appeared to have a good claim for a penalty in the 17th minute when Nicolita, having got goal-side of World Cup winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro, seemed to be dragged to the ground by the Italian defender inside the area.

Steaua, who had lost 4-1 at home to Real in the first meeting a fortnight ago, were proving more than a match for their hosts though and Petre Marin, Daniel Oprita and Valentin Badea all had decent efforts at goal in quick succession.

Real looked to be on the rocks at that point, but they came within inches of taking the lead just before the break.

A cross from the right from Mahamadou Diarra found Van Nistelrooy totally alone at the far past and, although at an awkward height, the former Manchester United man seemed certain to score as he bundled the ball towards goal.

But Steaua goalkeeper Cornel Cernea made a brilliant save to keep the shot out on the line and neither Van Nistelrooy nor Robinho was able to put home the loose ball.

With Real looking to build on their decent start to the second period, new coach Fabio Capello brought on David Beckham for the defensive midfielder Diarra just before the hour-mark.

The former England captain, who recently admitted his frustration at being used largely as a substitute this season, was looking lively and hiswell-flighted free-kick was headed narrowly over by Sergio Ramos as Real began to dominate.

Then came the incident which decided the match, as Nicolita put theball into his own net to give Real a crucial breakthrough.

Van Nistelrooy should have made it two moments later but he blazed over from the penalty spot having himself been brought down by Cornea when he was clean through on goal.

REAL MADRID: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Diarra (Beckham 59), Raul, Guti, Robinho (Reyes 87), van Nistelrooy (Ronaldo 74).

STEAUA BUCURESTI: Cernea, Stancu, Ghionea, Goian, Marin, Nicolita, Paraschiv (Thereau 79), Petre, Oprita (Coman 85), Dica, Badea (Lovin 79).

Ref: Konrad Plautz (Austria).