MATCH REPORT

The following report is taken from Reuters and is copyrighted. I use it here as unfortunately I missed the game.

Real Madrid overcame underdogs Raja Casablanca 3-2 with a last-gasp goal on Monday despite having three players sent off in an amazing World Club Championship game. Raja, who stunned their opponents by taking a first half lead, also had a man dismissed. The result left Real with seven points from three games in group A and set to qualify for the final unless Brazil's Corinthians, who were to play Al Nassr on the same pitch immediately afterwards, won by two goals or more. Real's Roberto Carlos and Jose Gutierrez and Raja's Bouchaib El Moubarki were all dismissed in the same second half incident. Real defender Christian Karambeu later became the fourth man sent off by Argentine referee Horacio Elisonde, the official who dismissed Manchester United's David Beckham earlier in the tournament. Otherwise, it was an open, flowing game in which both sides created a host of chances. Youssef Achami gave Raja a shock first half lead but Fernando Hierro and Fernando Morientes replied early in the second half with two goals in a three-minute spell and then Mustapha Moustaoudia equalised for Raja. Two minutes from time Cameroon international Geremi Njitap scored an unlikely winner with a shot from just outside the penalty area. The flare-up which spoiled the game came shortly after Raja's second goal. Roberto Carlos, who had predicted a five or six-goal win for his team before the game, crashed into El Moubarki and was sent off. Gutierrez kicked El Moubarki as the Moroccan was lying on the ground and was also dismissed, while El Moubarki, who had been writhing on the ground in apparent agony, leaped to his feet, spat at Gutierrez, was sent off and led away in tears. Karembeu went later for a second bookable offence. Real, aiming for a big score, also lost French striker Nicolas Anelka in the 37th minute when he limped off injured and was replaced by Morientes, who himself had missed Real's first one-and-a-half games through injury. The Spaniards wasted a glut of early scoring chances, including four free kicks on the edge of the penalty area. They paid in the 28th minute when Achami rose unmarked following a corner and scored with a powerful header. With Raja being cheered by Corinthians fans arriving for the following match and Real rattled, the Moroccans missed two good chances to extend their lead. But Morientes changed the game, hitting the post with his first touch in the 38th minute and scoring his side's second goal in the 52nd minute after being allowed to dribble into the Raja penalty area and shoot unhindered. Three minutes earlier, Real captain Hierro had equalised, this time hitting the target with a free kick which went through the Raja wall. Raja, who missed two excellent chances before Morientes's goal, refused to lie down. Moustaoudia equalised in the 59th minute with another header from a cross by Redouane El Haimeur, shortly after the three sendings-off. In the 70th minute, Moustaoudia missed an excellent chance when he hit the post with the goal at his mercy. Numerous other chances were wasted by both sides in a game of non-stop action.