The modest Al Jazira team had one strategy, defend & send long balls & try their luck. Seems obvious for Real Madrid to counter this idea, but in their frenzy to score goals they left continuously enormous gaps in defence which allowed the "locals" to score & nearly pull off a surprise had their second goal not been given as offside.
It was a surreal match for Real Madrid, total control of the ball more than 20 shots at goal of which Al Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif stopped at least 70% personally while his second half substitute Khalid Al Senaani did the rest. Amazing & unbelievable misses that frustrated the Spaniards & gave the locals goal opportunities with long balls. So much so that in the 40th min ROMARINHO scored for Al Jazira in a counter-attack.
If this was not enough, Al Jazira scored again shortly after the start of the 2ยบ half that was disallowed, & this would have opened the gates of a possible disaster for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid regained composure & began looking for goals. Benzema hit the post twice, the bad luck this player is having this season with the goal is also unbelievable. Real Madrid began making changes bring out Lucas Vazquez, Asensio & Gareth Bale & gave the team more ideas, more penetration around the locals defensive wall & bite.
CRISTIANO RONALDO scored the equalizer in the 54th min & in doing so broke another record in this competition as the all time highest goalscorer. GARETH BALE later got the winner in the 82nd min to assure a finals berth for his Club & avoid the surprise of the year.
Real Madrid will meet Brazil Club Gremio de Porto Alegre in the Final next Saturday. The Spanish Clubs goes in with some serious thinking to be done in defensive duties & the needed to urgently solve their lack of effectiveness in front of goal. Sometime that they drag from La Liga.
Real Madrid has expired a sigh of relief , as they were close to the elimination tonight.
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