TOKYO, 28 July 2005 — Brazil striker Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Japan’s Jubilo Iwata 3-1 yesterday in the second of two preseason games in Japan.

Captain Raul had fired the Spanish club ahead in the third minute after Michael Owen’s initial effort was deflected into his path.

Ronaldo came close moments later before England striker Owen had a seemingly good goal disallowed after a late offside flag in the ninth minute.

Shu Naruoka equalized for Jubilo in the 24th minute with a low shot from 25 meters but Ronaldo picked himself up after being fouled to rest ore Real’s lead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute.

Raul squandered a gilt-edged chance 10 minutes into the second half following slick buildup play from Guti and Roberto Carlos.

Ronaldo added Real’s third in injury time, latching on to substitute Luis Figo’s defense-splitting ball to slot the ball through the legs of Jubilo goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

England captain David Beckham completed 68 minutes in his second game after pulling a hamstring in the United States last week and received a standing ovation from the crowd of 34,000.

Travel-weary Real suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in a bad-tempered game with Tokyo Verdy on Monday.

Beckham was involved in a furious tunnel fracas after the first half of that game after accusing a Verdy player of spitting at him.

“After Monday’s game some of the players were angry,” Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo told reporters. “I told them to stay calm today and play their normal game.” The Brazilian added: “The Verdy game was not at all good because the players were tired. We had no time to prepare so we gave away silly goals. Things improved today.” Real won two friendlies in the US before arriving in the Far East. They finish their lucrative trip with a friendly in Bangkok tomorrow.

The Spanish giants are expected to earn around $25 million from their six-match preseason tour.

No Evidence in Beckham

Spitting Row, Say J-League

Japanese officials said yesterday that there was no way of proving that Tokyo Verdy’s Kazuyuki Toda spat at David Beckham in a preseason game.

Beckham was involved in a heated tunnel bust-up after accusing Toda of spitting in his face during Real Madrid’s match against the J-League club on Monday.

The England captain and several of his Real teammates reacted furiously after Beckham clashed with Toda in the first half. Toda said “spit flew” but denied spitting directly at Beckham.

The J-League contacted Verdy on Tuesday to verify the facts and were told that Toda continued to protest his innocence.

“It was not in the referee’s report or the match commissioner’s,” J-League general secretary Kazuki Sasaki told Reuters.

“There is no video evidence so it’s a case of who said what at the moment.”

Genoa Demoted After

Match-Fixing Probe

In Milan, Italian club Genoa have been demoted from Serie A to the third division after the Italian Football League investigated claims of match-fixing.

The League’s disciplinary commission had examined evidence relating to Genoa’s 3-2 win over Venezia on the final day of the season which secured them promotion from Serie B.

The ruling means Genoa, one of Italy’s oldest clubs, will have to play next season in Serie C1 — and they will start the campaign with a three point penalty imposed by the league.

Club president Enrico Preziosi and general manager Stefano Capozucca were handed five-year bans from holding positions in the game for their roles in the affair.

Francesco Dal Cin, managing director of Venezia, was also given a five-year ban.

Venezia players Martin Lejsal and Massimo Borgobellow were given bans of five and six months from the game.

All the decisions can be appealed.