Madrid grateful for Morientes

By Maciej Iwanski at the Wisly stadium

Fernando Morientes picked up where he left off last season with AS Monaco FC by scoring two late goals to give Real Madrid CF victory at Wisla Kraków in this UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first-leg tie.

Happy return
Morientes was the leading scorer in the competition last season with nine goals for the runners-up, including efforts in each quarter-final leg against Madrid but, his loan spell over, he now is back in the Madrid fold. Sent on 22 minutes from the end with the score at 0-0, he gave the visitors the edge ahead of their home return on 25 August.

Even first half
Madrid were out of the blocks quickly, but Wisla were soon into their stride in an even first half. Tomasz Frankowski twice went close, while Ronaldo dispossessed Wisla goalkeeper Radoslaw Majdan on the edge of the box only for Arkadiusz Glowacki to produce a last-ditch tackle. However, Glowacki was fortunate midway through the half when he intercepted a Luís Figo cross only to turn the ball just past his own post.

Uche chance
On 32 minutes Kalu Uche was sent through on the Madrid goal, but visiting custodian Iker Casillas kept his nerve to stop the run. The game was goalless at the break, but one minute into the second half Mauro Cantoro came within centimetres of giving Wisla the lead with a shot from outside the box.

Wisla efforts
Maciej Zurawski then went close with an effort 16 metres out, and just before the hour Casillas turned Miroslaw Szymkowiak's free-kick round the post. Zinedine Zidance had a shot blocked, and the same fate met a Zurawski chance in the 71st minute effort.

Substitute scores
By then Morientes had been on the pitch just four minutes having come on for Ronaldo, but within seconds of the Zurawski chance the Spanish international had put Madrid ahead. David Beckham's low cross was perfect for his team-mate and Morientes tapped the ball in from close range.

Lead doubled
Wisla had given their all, and in the final minute there was an action replay of the first goal, only this time Roberto Carlos was the supplier for Morientes. His effect on Madrid's campaign this season is already in marked contrast to the events of 2003/04.