Last update - 00:00 19/06/2007
Real Madrid trounces Israeli-Palestinian peace squad 8-0
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
Fresh of its La Liga championship, Real Madrid came out strong Tuesday, crushing a mixed Israeli-Palestinian team 8-0 in a peace match held in front of 30,000 fans at the national stadium in Ramat Gan.
The game was organized by the Peres Center for Peace, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and President-elect Shimon Peres. The center runs a number of peace sports schools in Israel where Israeli and Palestinian children train together.
Star midfielder Guti grabbed a first half hat trick for Madrid to put the game all but out of reach for the Peace Team, which included Israel captain Yossi Benayoun and Bolton Wanderer's Idan Tal.
Striker Raul added a fourth two minutes into the second half before being substituted followed by a goal by Alvara Negredo, another from Guti and one from Ruben de la Red.
The rout was finished off two minutes from the end by Negredo. Madrid brought a near-full squad of players to Israel, and coach Fabio Capello included many of the stars who had played a significant part in Real's La Liga triumph at the weekend in his opening line up, including Sergio Ramos and Michel Salgado.
Peres began the game with a ceremonial kickoff.
But the biggest star, Madrid's David Beckham, did not make the trip. Beckham played his last match for Real Madrid on Sunday and is joining the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League soccer next month.
Roberto Carlos also missed the match, having arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday to complete his transfer to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
The Peace Team nearly took a surprise early lead in the second minute when Sivasspor's Pini Balili found himself with only goalie Iker Casillas to beat. But the Israeli international was unable to make the chance count and Casillas saved easily.
Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain forced the first real save of the match in the 27th minute when he unleashed a powerful shot which Peace Team goalkeeper Dudu Awat punched away for a corner kick.
Two minutes later Real took the lead when Guti fired past Awat from the edge of the area.
Benayoun had a great chance to score in the 37th minute, but his volley was too weak. Guti made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when he hit a strong shot from the left side of the penalty area which Awat was powerless to stop. And he scored his third in the 45th when he half-volleyed into the corner from the center of the penalty box.
Raul scored the fourth for Real two minutes into the second half, kicking the ball past Awat from the edge of the area. Negredo scored a fifth with 28 minutes to go, and Guti got his fourth and Madrid's sixth two minutes later.
It was 7-0 in the 74th minute when de la Red scored a skillful goal, evading substitute goalkeeper Shavit Elimelech. Negredo scored his second of the match in the 88th.
Raul said prior to the match that the celebrations following Real's 3-1 win over Mallorca on Sunday night - which clinched the club's 30th league title - may have taken a toll but the players would give their best.
"We are very happy to be here, as we believe we have to work to help these kids," he told a news conference. "The team is very tired but we have to play a spectacular match for the fans and people watching."
The Peace Squad is made up of players from the Israeli and Palestinian leagues. It includes Israel goalkeeper Dudu Awat, who currently plays for Deportivo La Coruna in Spain, Maccabi Haifa's Abbas Suan and Beitar Jerusalem's Omri Afek.
The match was the third between a peace team and a prominent Spanish club. However, unlike the games against Barcelona in 2005 and Seville in2006, this was the first in Israel.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon said it was the club's idea to play in Tel Aviv.
"We wanted to come here and play this match where the problem is," he said. "People are aware of what, unfortunately, is happening in the world. That is the reason we wanted to come and practically demanded to come. Real Madrid does not close its eyes to the social realities that surround us."