Real Madrid return to glory by winning Spanish cup

By Duncan Shaw Apr 20, 2011, 23:10 GMT

Valencia, Spain - Real Madrid won their first trophy since 2008 by beating favourites Barcelona 1-0 in the final of the Spanish King's Cup on Wednesday in Valencia.

Cristiano Ronaldo guided Real to their first Spanish cup win since 1993 by heading in an extra-time winner to break the tense satalemate.

The final whistle in Valencia provoked euphoria and delight in Madrid among fans who have had to endure Barcelona's domination in recent years.

Real coach Jose Mourinho's counterattacking strategy was completely vindicated, as the whites soaked up all of Barca's pressure - and hit them lethally on the break.

The crucial goal came 12 minutes into extra time. Marcelo and Angel Di Maria played a clever one-two down the left, and the latter centred perfectly for Ronaldo to get above Adriano and break the deadlock with a powerful header.

A euphoric Ronaldo said: 'I am very happy because the club has gone many years without winning the cup. Mourinho has been very helpful in this. He has given us positive energy.'

Real's new hero finished by saying: 'Barca played well, but in football, who scores wins.'

Di Maria said that 'this is due to the strength of our unity. I knew that we could win this title.'

Real captain Iker Casillas, who had to make two sharp saves in the second half, called the outcome a 'triumph is for the fans, because they have had a difficult time of it in recent years.'

Casillas, who accepted the trophy from King Juan Carlos, said that the team must now turn attention to the Champions League.

Real face Barca in the Champions semi-finals on April 27 in Madrid and on May 2 in Barcelona.

Real President Florentino Perez called it a 'vibrant game' and 'a demonstration that Spain leads the world in football.'

The club's general director, Jorge Valdano, praised 'a heroic effort from our young team.'

As expected, Barca enjoyed 70-per-cent possession. What was not expected, however, was that they would be unable to break down an excellent Real defence.

The Catalans failed to create many clear chances. The closest that they came to scoring was in the 69th minute, when Pedro had a goal correctly disallowed for offside.

Before then, all of the chances had been for Real, despite their lack of possession.

Ronaldo forced a low save out of Barca keeper Jose Manuel Pinto in the 36th minute. Just before half-time, the imposing Pepe - used by Mourinho in midfield instead of defence - headed an excellent centre from Mesut Oezil against Pinto's post.

Barca improved in the second half, and Real keeper Iker Casillas had to save low down from Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

Real almost won it at the end of normal time, but Pinto did well to keep out a high shot from Di Maria.

Then came extra time, and Ronaldo took centre stage. He came close to breaking the deadlock with a low drive on the break, then scored a winning goal that was celebrated wildly in Valencia and Madrid.

Real were reduced to 10 men in the last minute when Di Maria was sent off for a second bookable offence, but the advantage came too late for Barcelona to capitalize.

Barca coach Josep Guardiola sportingly congratulated Real: 'Now we will just have to pick ourselves up and get back to work.'

It was the first final that Guardiola had lost since taking over Barca in 2008, and the first time that he had lost to Real in seven games.

Barca President Sandro Rosell also congratulated Real.

'I am proud of our players, coach and fans,' he said. 'It was a good final, very emotional. A goal could have fallen to either team.'

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