Real fight back to draw on historic night

Real's younger and bit-part players battled back superbly after their stars had been substituted, throwing everything at the visitors as the match became more intense and competitive with Real searching desperately for the equaliser.

It finally came three minutes from the end when Esteban Cambiasso scored with a brilliantly struck curling shot from the edge of the box to give the reigning World Club and European champions a well deserved draw after creating eight clear-cut chances in the last 20 minutes.

The World Selection took the lead after 30 minutes with a superbly executed header from German Miroslav Klose, who scored five goals in the World Cup finals.

He connected with a perfectly flighted cross from the still-impressive Roberto Baggio wide on the left, getting to the ball before both defender Ivan Helguera and goalkeeper Ilker Casillas and making no mistake with his diving header.

A minute later both Baggio and Klose were among the first of the visitors' substitutions and the young Brazilian Kaka, who replaced Baggio, doubled their lead two minutes before the break.

He drifted unchallenged past three Real defenders before side-footing past substitute goalkeeper Cesar

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Real created several promising openings in the first half but Ronaldo was kept firmly in check by Rafael Marquez and Paolo Maldini in the visitors' defence and apart from a chance for Raul after five minutes and Luis Figo eight minutes later, Real never looked like scoring.

Despite the pouring rain, a halftime break extended to 26 minutes was enlivened by opera singer and Real fan Placido Domingo's rendition of the club's hymn, accompanied by a full symphony orchestra and flanked by the two teams.

The players then had to wait several minutes in the rain while the musicians, in full evening dress, trooped off with their instruments and stage set.

Three minutes after the break Aliou Cisse made it 3-0 after more good work from Kaka, who played in the Senegalese midfielder to shrug off Real's substitute defender Borja and lift the ball past keeper Cesar.

Real pulled one goal back on the hour mark as Santiago Solari swept in from the penalty spot after Portillo was held by Murat Yakin as he attempted to reach a Fernando Morientes cross.

Tote further reduced the arrears with a simple tap-in on 65 minutes after Albano Bizarri failed to hold Portillo's shot.

There than followed a furious finale which eventually provided Real with an equaliser.