HONG KONG, 9 August 2003 — Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid eased to a 4-2 victory over a Hong Kong Select XI yesterday, the penultimate leg of their Asian tour.
An enthusiastic Hong Kong crowd cheered new recruit David Beckham’s every touch, although the England captain, playing in his preferred right midfield role, had a subdued game.
His best moment came in the 34th minute when a trademark cross field pass picked out Ronaldo and the Brazilian striker scored his second goal of the game.
Real had the ball in the net as early as the second minute when Hong Kong keeper An Qi failed to hold a Roberto Carlos shot and Raul pounced on the rebound, but the effort was ruled offside.
Portuguese international Luis Figo opened the scoring from the penalty spot five minutes later after Roberto Carlos was brought down in the area. Ronaldo then rifled in a left foot shot in the 13th minute after being released by a slick pass from French playmaker Zinedine Zidane.
Chinese international Wang Peng scored with a powerful header in the 26th minute as Real did not have things all their own way.
But their joy was short-lived as two goals from Ronaldo and Raul within the space of two minutes put the visitors firmly back in the driving seat.
Li Yao rounded off the scoring in first half stoppage time when he shot home after the ball broke to him from a corner.
Makaay Completes Bayern Switch
In Berlin, Dutch striker Roy Makaay completed his move to Bayern Munich yesterday, giving the German champions a welcome boost in their bid to make an impact in Europe.
Bayern said Makaay had signed a four-year contract after the last details had been cleared with Spain’s Deportivo Coruna.
The four-time European champions had said on Monday that Makaay, last season’s top scorer in Spain’s first division with 29 goals, would join them, but the move was delayed when it emerged the two clubs were fighting over the transfer fee.
“The contracts have been signed and the money has been transferred,” Bayern spokesman Markus Hoerwick said yesterday.
Bayern had originally understood they had to pay Deportivo 17.75 million euros but the Spanish club then told them an extra 930,000 euros should be paid to Vitesse Arnhem and NEC Nijmegen for nurturing Makaay’s early career.
The matter was settled on Friday with Bayern saying they had agreed to pay a total 18.75 million euros, making Makaay the second most expensive Bundesliga signing after Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso, who cost Borussia Dortmund 25.6 million euros two years ago.
Villa Agree Terms for Keeper Sorensen
In London, Aston Villa have signed goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen from relegated Sunderland after he passed a medical yesterday, the Premier League club’s official website said.
The 27-year-old Denmark international, who has signed a three-year deal, was reported to have cost 2.25 million pounds ($3.6 million) although Villa did not confirm the figure. He will join his team mates on a two-day trip to Dublin where he could make his debut in a friendly against Premier League rivals Leeds United today, the website said.
Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann also moved to the central England club last month, also for 2.25 million pounds, while Sunderland’s French forward David Bellion joined Manchester United on a free transfer.
