The Hindu : Sport : Zidane signs off from Bernabeu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Sport

Sport

Zidane signs off from Bernabeu

Madrid: Zinedine Zidane scored in the 67th minute of his final home appearance for Real Madrid in his team's 3-3 draw with Villarreal in the Spanish league.

Zidane, who is to retire after the World Cup, sent in a looping header from David Beckham's cross for Madrid's second goal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Madrid's draw lifted it into second place, one point above Valencia with one match remaining. Both teams are aiming to finish second and claim an automatic berth in the European Champions League.

``We wanted the fans to enjoy themselves on account of Zidane. I would have liked a win because he deserved everything this evening,'' Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro was quoted as saying by news agency Efe.

A rousing reception

Zidane's goal delighted Madrid's supporters, who had given him a standing ovation as he walked onto the field. Each had held aloft a card bearing an image of Zidane's No 5 shirt accompanied by the words ``Thank you Zidane.''

Madrid's players also wore a commemorative shirt inscribed with ``Zidane 2001-2006'' under the team badge.

The world player of 1998, 2000 and 2003, who will make his final Madrid appearance in the team's visit to Sevilla next week, received another rousing reception when he was replaced in the 90th minute.

A tearful Zidane, lacking the shirt he had just swapped with Villarreal's Juan Roman Riquelme, reappeared after the final whistle to chants of his nickname, ``Zizou.''

Other results: Racing Santander 2 bt Osasuna 1; Getafe 3 bt Cadiz 1; Real Sociedad 2 drew with Celta Vigo 2; Real Betis 2 bt Mallorca 1; Zaragoza 3 bt Alaves 0; Deportivo La Coruna 1 lost to Athletic Bilbao 2. — AP

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