Real Madrid Beat Raja Casablanca in World Club Championship

Real Madrid beat African champion Raja Casablanca 3-2 with a last-gasp goal despite having three players sent off in the World Club Championship in Sao Pauloon on January 10.

Real have accumulated seven points after the win from three games in group A and look sure to qualify for the final unless Brazil's Corinthians beat Al Nassr on the same pitch immediately afterwards by at least two goals.

Real's Roberto Carlos and Jose Gutierrez and Raja's Bouchaib ElMoubarki were all dismissed in the same second half incident.

Real defender Christian Karambeu later became the fourth man sent off by Argentine referee Horacio Elisonde, who dismissed Manchester United's David Beckham earlier in the tournament.

Youssef Achami gave Raja a shock first half lead in the 28th minute but Fernando Hierro and Fernando Morientes replied early in the second half with two goals in a three-minute spell and then Mustapha Moustaoudia equalised for Raja in the 59th minute.

Two minutes from time Cameroon international Geremi Njitap scored the last goal with a shot from just outside the penalty area.

The incident occured shortly after Raja's second goal.

Roberto Carlos, who had predicted a five or six-goal win for his team before the game, crashed into El Moubarki and was sent off.

Gutierrez kicked El Moubarki as the Moroccan was lying on the ground and was also dismissed, while El Moubarki, who had been writhing on the ground in apparent agony, leaped to his feet, spatat Gutierrez, was sent off and led away in tears. Karembeu went later for a second bookable offence. (Xinhua)


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