Ruud keeps Madrid's hopes alive
Sunday, June 10, 2007

Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored his second goal in the 89th minute as Real Madrid rallied to draw 2-2 at Zaragoza on Saturday to keep alive its hopes of a Spanish league title after Espanyol managed a 2-2 draw at FC Barcelona.

Sevilla drew 0-0 with Mallorca to keep a slim chance of winning its first league title in 61 years.

Madrid and Barcelona lead the league with 73 points, though Madrid wins on head-to-head should they remain tied in the standings. Sevilla has 71 points with one round of matches remaining.

Madrid can clinch its record 30th league title - and first since 2003 -if it beats Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium next Sunday.

"Tonight we had luck to tie in the last minute and for Espanyol to do so as well," Van Nistelrooy said. "It's very emotional. I don't have words to describe it."

David Beckham started for Madrid despite not being 100 percent after spraining his ankle while playing for England on Wednesday and needed treatment in the 83rd.

Van Nistelrooy shrugged off a defender to score his league-leading 25th goal of the season and cancel out Zaragoza striker Diego Milito's goal in the 64th.

Milito had opened the scoring with a penalty in the 32nd before the Dutchman evened it with a bouncing header in the 57th.

"We were disordered in the first half, but in the second we went looking to recover a result and on the field we saw at all times the great will to win, the heart and spirit of the team," Madrid coach Fabio Capello said.

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