Zaragoza ruin Beckham's King's Cup final
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-18 10:07

Real Zaragoza ended Real Madrid's dream of a treble in Carlos Queiroz's first season as coach, with substitute Luciano Galletti scored an extra-time winner.

Real Madrid's David Beckham (R) and his teammate Ivan Helguera celebrate the opening goal scored by Beckham against Zaragoza, during their King's Cup final match at the Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, March 17, 2004. [Reuters]

Both teams finished a thrilling match with 10 men after Madrid's Guti and Zaragoza's Ruben Cani were ordered off by referee Fernando Carmona Mendez.

David Beckham had put Madrid ahead after 23 minutes with a majestic free-kick from 25 yards.

The England captain curled his shot over the wall and into the Zaragoza goal via the left post.

Zaragoza levelled in the 29th minute when former Madrid player Dani slammed the ball home from close range when Santiago Solari mistimed his leap and failed to head clear a left-wing cross from Savio - another one-time Bernabeu favourite.

Dani took full advantage of Solari's blunder and relished the strike against his former employers.

Beckham struck the outside of the right post with another free-kick soon afterwards, as the favourites hit back.

But they were the masters of their own downfall and Guti gave away a spot-kick a couple of minutes before the break with a rash challenge from behind on Zaragoza striker David Villa.

Villa, Zaragoza's top scorer, calmly converted the spot-kick to set up a potential upset.

The second half began with Madrid equalising just three minutes in, when Roberto Carlos smashed home a free-kick after Raul had been felled.

Real Zaragoza's captain Luis Cuartero, foreground, celebrates beside Real Madrid's David Beckham, background, and Michel Salgado after winning the Copa del Rey soccer final in Barcelona's Lluis Companys Olympic stadium Wednesday March 17, 2004. [AP]

But the game became congested in midfield, and with Raul quiet, Madrid were clearly missing the injured Ronaldo, who watched from the stands.

Cani was given his marching orders midway through the second half, forcing Zaragoza to cling on to force extra-time.

They succeeded in maintaining the 2-2 scoreline, and 30 extra minutes became necessary.

Madrid conceded their one-man advantage when Guti was dismissed early in the extra period, and then Zaragoza stung them in the 111th minute when Galletti, who had replaced Villa on the hour mark, ripped a 20-yard strike past Cesar Sanchez and into the bottom left corner.

Becoming increasingly desperate, Madrid could find no way back.

They remain top of the Primera Liga and have booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, but they have not won the cup since 1993.

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