Football: Rodriguez helps Real into Copa del Rey Last 16
James Rodriquez helped holders Real Madrid into the Copa del Rey Last 16 on Tuesday.
MADRID (AFP) - Colombian star playmaker James Rodriquez helped holders Real Madrid into the Copa del Rey Last 16 on Tuesday, the Spanish giants crushing third division Cornella 5-0 for a 9-1 aggregate win.
Real may have been without Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale but Carlo Ancelotti s youthful side barely made a false move to notch up their 17th consecutive win in all competitions.
Real almost got off to a rocky start when in the 14th minute Alvaro Arbeloa, captain for the night, gave away a penalty.
But the Catalan club s striker Xavi Boniquet fired over the crossbar of Real s third choice goalkeeper, Fernando Pacheco
One of Real s galacticos on duty, Rodriguez, opened the scoring two minutes later with a deft lob, Isco adding the second and Rodriguez adding a third before the break.
An own goal from Borja Lopez increased Cornella s deficit with Real substitute Jese Rodriquez adding Real s 88th minute fifth goal.
This was the 21-year-old Spaniard s first competitive match after eight months out with an injured knee.
Real s perfect night at the Bernabeu earned them the first ticket to the Last 16 of a competition they are seeking to win for the 20th time.
