Ronaldo Sparks Real Madrid
Brazilian striker Ronaldo returned to the scene of his World Cup triumph Tuesday night and scored the first goal as European champion Real Madrid of Spain defeated South American champion Olimpia of Paraguay, 2-0, in front of 66,070 at the International Stadium at Yokohama, Japan, winning the annual Toyota/Intercontinental Cup.
“I am delighted,” Ronaldo said. “This stadium brought me luck at the World Cup and has been good to me again. This has been an incredible year for me and for Real Madrid.”
Ronaldo’s World Cup teammate, defender Roberto Carlos, created the first goal in the 14th minute with a cross from the left that Raul dummied, allowing the ball to reach the onrushing Ronaldo, whose 17-yard shot gave goalkeeper Ricardo Tavarelli no chance.
The Paraguayan team had its best scoring chance moments later when Rodrigo Lopez hit the post with a fierce volley.
Real Madrid, which won the Toyota/Intercontinental Cup in 1960 and 1998, sealed the victory in the 84th minute when Guti headed in a right-wing cross from Luis Figo.
Real Madrid, which also won the European Champions League and the European Super Cup this year, became only the fourth team since the event started in 1960 to win the unofficial world club championship three times, joining Italy’s AC Milan and Uruguay’s Penarol and Nacional.
Boniek Quits
Zbigniew Boniek, 46, who was appointed Poland’s coach after its disappointing World Cup campaign, resigned after only five months and five matches in charge.
“I have been thinking about it for a couple of days,” Boniek said in Warsaw. “I think it is the right [decision] and I do not intend to comment.”
Under Boniek, who was Poland’s greatest player, Poland compiled a 2-2-1 record, but his efforts to modernize the team, introduce new players and change tactics were met by criticism from players and the media.
His assistant, former international defender Stefan Majewski, was selected caretaker coach until a successor is found.
Tahuichi Loss
Rolando Aguilera, who in 1978 founded one of international soccer’s most successful youth development programs, the Tahuichi Academy in Bolivia, has died at 64 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, after a lengthy illness.
Among the top-class Bolivian national team players Tahuichi produced are Marco Etcheverry of Major League Soccer’s D.C. United and Erwin “Platini” Sanchez of Boavista in the Portuguese league.
Francis Fined
Trevor Francis, the former England international who is coach of Crystal Palace in the English first division, was fined $1,566 by the Football Assn. after being found guilty of violent conduct.
Francis had cuffed his backup goalkeeper, Latvian Alex Kolinko, on the head after Kolinko laughed when Palace conceded a goal during a game this season.
Quick Passes
Striker Arman Karamyan, whose club-record 36 goals helped Pyunik Yerevan win the Armenian league and cup double, was selected Armenia’s player of the year. His twin brother, Artavazd, finished second.... Sparta Prague fired Jozef Jarabinsky as coach, even though the team leads the Czech league. Jarabinsky’s failure to qualify Sparta for the European Champions League was the cause.
