Benzema and Kaka strike late to sink APOEL

Karim Benzema and Kaka scored late goals to give Real Madrid an emphatic 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

The nine-times European champions dominated the match but APOEL, the first Cypriot side to reach the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition, defended solidly to frustrate their Spanish opponents until the last 15 minutes.

The arrival of Kaka as a substitute midway through the second half created the breakthrough, the Brazilian producing a superb cross from the left for the diving Benzema to head powerfully home after 74 minutes.

Kaka slotted in the second goal from eight metres following a surging run down the left by his fellow substitute Marcelo and Benzema struck again in the last minute to put the La Liga leaders firmly on course for the semi-finals.

"It took us a long time to open the score but that had a lot to do with our opponents who played very well," Real coach Jose Mourinho told reporters.

"They don't have the outstanding individual talent that other teams in the Champions League have but in terms of organisation and character they are fantastic," the Portuguese added.

"They created many difficulties and I think we won the game because we played well. What they did was fantastic, and we had to play at optimum strength to win, they were fantastic on defence and they deserve our respect."

APOEL's Brazilian defender Marcelo Oliveira was carried off on a stretcher after pulling his hamstring early in the match but the home side initially made light of his absence.

Benzema missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring late in the first half, the French striker inexplicably directing the ball over the bar from close range with the goal gaping.

APOEL failed to register a shot on the Real goal but the Spanish side became increasingly frustrated by their inability to break through.

Cristiano Ronaldo caused problems without going close to scoring and it needed the introduction of Kaka to provide the spark for Real.

The playmaker cleverly set up the first goal for Benzema with a pinpoint cross and clinically converted Marcelo's cutback before Mesut Ozil crossed for Benzema to tap in his second.

APOEL coach Ivan Jovanovic said his side had become frustrated after the first goal.

"The truth is we were well organised, at least on defence, but certainly, some disappointment set in after the 75th minute. There was some disappointment and I would say afte the goal we lost some concentration," he told Sigma Sports.

APOEL chairman Phivos Erotocritou said APOEL were proud of their achievements.

"We have our head held high. It has been really special, we are very proud that we got to this point. It is certainly not a result to be ashamed of, we are very very proud we got to this point."

The second leg in Madrid takes place next Wednesday

Rejuvenated Kaka inspires Real victory

A rejuvenated Kaka scored one goal and had a hand in two more as nine-times European Cup winners Real Madrid thumped Ajax Amsterdam 3-0 to seize control of Champions League Group D on Tuesday.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 25th minute at the Bernabeu, finishing off a sweeping breakaway move. Brazil playmaker Kaka and France striker Karim Benzema then struck either side of halftime.

"It was a good win and puts us in a good position in the group," Kaka told Spanish television.

"We need to continue like this and I think we can seal the group very soon," added the 29-year-old who was given a rousing ovation when he was substituted in the 75th minute.

Kaka joined Real from AC Milan at the end of the 2008-09 season for a fee of almost 70 million euros ($95.4 million) but a series of injuries have prevented him rediscovering the form that won him the World Player of the Year award in 2007.

He looked back to his sparkling best on Tuesday as Real, who were knocked out by bitter rivals and eventual champions Barcelona in last year's semi-finals, strengthened their hold on top spot with six points from two matches.

Olympique Lyon have four points thanks to their 2-0 win at home to Dinamo Zagreb, with Ajax on one point in third and the Croatian team bottom on zero.

RAPID MOVE

Real coach Jose Mourinho, serving the final game of a three-match ban, opted for an attacking formation against the Dutch side with Kaka and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil operating just behind Ronaldo and Benzema.

However, it was Ajax who started brightest and Iker Casillas had to make a smart save low to his left from Christian Eriksen's snap shot in the first minute.

Casillas was called into action again in the 15th when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson burst through the centre and the Spain keeper blocked the Icelander's shot.

Real's first real chance came two minutes later when Sami Khedira found space on the right and pulled the ball back for Benzema but the Frenchman scuffed his shot wide.

Kenneth Vermeer in Ajax's goal did well to sprint off his line and block a Ronaldo effort in the 22nd but was powerless to prevent the forward giving his side the lead three minutes later.

Ronaldo, another former World Player of the Year and the world's most expensive footballer, smashed the ball into the net after a rapid passing move involving Ozil, Kaka and Benzema.

Kaka was allowed too much space on the edge of the area and fired a powerful left-foot drive into the corner in the 41st minute and any hopes of a second-half Ajax revival were snuffed out in the 49th when Benzema sidefooted home Kaka's pass.

Ajax coach Frank De Boer, who helped the club win the European Cup in 1995 before making more than 150 appearances for Barcelona, said his side needed to be "smarter and better organised" if they were to challenge teams like Real.

"I said in my talk before the game that Real Madrid were very dangerous on the break and they showed that again tonight," the former Dutch international said.

"We started pretty well though and that should give us some confidence for the coming games."