ACTUALITE |
23.05.2005
Forlan closes on Eto`o in six-goal thriller
A hat-trick from Uruguayan Diego Forlan earned Villareal a 3-3 draw at champions Barcelona in a thriller at the Camp Nou. Forlan moved to within one strike of Barça`s Samuel Eto`o in the goalscoring charts, the Cameroon international missing a penalty and having a frustrating evening all round.
The result kept Manuel Pellegrini`s side in third place in the table, a point ahead of Real Betis, who won 3-2 at home to Real Zaragoza on Saturday, and two clear of Sevilla who were held to a 0-0 draw at Getafe.
With Barca fans in party mood after their team wrapped up their first league title in six seasons last week, the two sides responded with by providing top-quality entertainment at the Nou Camp.
Former Manchester United striker Forlan put Villarreal ahead in the 17th minute when he curled a superbly struck shot beyond reserve keeper Albert Jorquera and into the top corner.
Barca had a chance to level seven minutes later when Samuel Eto`o was brought down in the area by Villarreal defender Quique Alvarez, but the Cameroon striker`s spot kick hit the underside of the bar and bounced back into play.
Forlan made no mistake, however, when he was given the penalty-taking duties after Jose Mari had been fouled in the area by centre-back Oleguer Presas just before the half hour.
The Catalans roared back with two goals in four minutes, Ronaldinho heading in from six metres and Ludovic Giuly hooking in from point-blank range after his overhead kick had been blocked by former Barca keeper Pepe Reina.
Giuly then put the home side in front three minutes into the second half when he cracked in an acutely angled volley, but it only sparked a fierce response from the visitors who proceeded to flood forward into attack.
Forlan completed his hat-trick and took his tally for the season to 23 -- one less than the Primera Liga`s leading scorer Eto`o -- when he lobbed the ball over Jorquera and into the net after a ricochet had fallen to him on the edge of the area.
The biggest cheers of the night, though, came when Brazilian defender Edmilson, Spain midfielder Gabri and Swedish striker Henrik Larsson came on as substitutes for Barcelona after recovering from serious knee injuries that had kept them out for most of the season.
SURVIVAL HOPES
At the other end of the table, Real Mallorca gave themselves renewed hope of survival when they climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time in eight months thanks to a 3-0 win at Deportivo Coruna on Sunday.
Japan striker Yoshito Okubo was in inspirational form for the islanders, setting up first-half goals for Franciso Javier Farinos and Juan Arango with superb crosses from the right and added one of his own midway through the second.
Hector Cuper`s side moved a point clear of Levante, who dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season and with just one game left after drawing 0-0 at home to city rivals Valencia.
The battle to avoid joining relegated Numancia and Albacete in the second division will now go down to the wire with Mallorca hosting Real Betis and Levante travelling to Villarreal in the final games of the season.
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Hits: 1 | Source:Eurosport | |
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