18 August 2011

Barcelona wins Super Cup with Messi's late winner

Published: Thursday August 18, 2011 MYT 8:00:00 AM
Updated: Thursday August 18, 2011 MYT 8:44:35 AM


BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Lionel Messi scored two goals, including the late winner, as Barcelona won its 10th Spanish Supercup with a dramatic 3-2 victory over bitter rival Real Madrid that ended with both benches brawling on the Camp Nou pitch.
Messi volleyed Adriano's cross past Iker Casillas for the 87th-minute winner to finish off a move started by recent arrival Cesc Fabregas, who made his Barcelona debut as a late substitute.
But a dramatic, up-tempo match in which Madrid twice rallied to equalize descended into a scrum in injury time as tensions on the hot, humid night reached a climax after Madrid defender Marcelo's hasty challenge on Fabregas.
Players pushed and shoved each other after the ugly tackle in front of the benches, with Madrid coach Jose Mourinho even putting his hand into Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova's eye during the melee.
After the players and coaching staff were separated and three red cards were brandished, Barcelona lifted its record-equaling third straight Supercup and first in five tries against Madrid. That gave Pep Guardiola his 11th major piece of silverware, surpassing Johan Cruyff to become the Catalan club's most successful coach.
Barcelona displayed all the verve of the beautiful game that guided it to Spanish league and Champions League triumphs while Madrid showed no capitulation after a frustrating 2-2 draw in the first leg it dominated.
"I won't say we're not happy about not winning the Supercup because that would make me a hypocrite. (But) I'm very happy with the evolution of the team," said Mourinho, who brushed off questions about his on-field actions. "The teams are well balanced."
Despite Ronaldo nearly putting the visitors ahead in the opening seconds, Barcelona scored first as Messi slipped a perfect through ball for Andres Iniesta to chip over goalkeeper Iker Casillas for the 15th-minute opener as Barcelona's pinpoint passing - led by playmaker Xavi Hernandez - exploited the space between Madrid's defensive lines.
Madrid stormed back five minutes later as Ronaldo steered Benzema's low cross beyond goalkeeper Victor Valdes for the Portugal forward's first goal in his fifth visit to the Camp Nou.
Messi then capped a superb Barcelona move in the 45th as Gerard Pique sent a short backheel pass inside the box and into the path of the Argentina forward who continued his run toward the right corner before sending a shot back over Casillas and inside the far post.
Madrid recovered and, soon after Sergio Ramos headed wide, Benzema was in a perfect poaching position to equalize again in the 81st.
But Messi capped the spectacular and spiteful match with his record eighth Supercup goal to move two ahead of former Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez as all-time leading scorer in the preseason series. The Catalan club also matched Madrid's record of three straight wins of the summer series.
Fabregas, who joined from Arsenal on Monday, was given a warm welcome after coming on in the 83rd but was quickly initiated into the ferocious series in the sixth matchup between the clubs since April. Marcelo was shown a red card for his challenge and teammate Mesut Oezil and Barcelona striker David Villa soon followed before the Catalans celebrated the victory.

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