Borussia Dortmund ... 1 Real Madrid ... 1Champions League holders Real Madrid threw themselves an injury-time lifeline with substitute Javier Portillo's equaliser in an exciting 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund last night.
Trailing at half-time to Jan Koller's 23rd-minute strike, Real were heading for defeat until, two minutes into stoppage time, Zinedine Zidane rolled a pass across the area for Portillo to shoot past Jens Lehmann and into the corner of the net.
Real remain second in Group C with five points to Dortmund's four, and the Spanish giants next face the already qualified AC Milan at home on March 12th.
Lehmann, who was sent off for attacking one of his own players at the weekend, redeemed himself with a superb performance that kept his side in the game.
And Dortmund missed a gilt-edged chance to take a 2-0 lead when Brazilian striker Ewerthon headed wide from close-range midway through the second half.
Real made the early running at a packed Westfalenstadion. Their first chance of the game saw Ronaldo's deft pass find Raul, whose first shot was blocked by Lehmann's legs before French defender Ahmed Madouni threw himself in front of Raul's second attempt.
Ewerthon's pace troubled Real all night and he showed early danger when his right-foot volley flew straight at Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Dortmund's increased pressure on Real paid off in the 23rd minute. Sebastien Kehl lobbed a pass over Ivan Helguera for Koller to thump home a shot at the near post.
Real were having enormous difficulty breaking down the Dortmund rearguard and it was not until the 32nd minute that they next tested Lehmann when Ronaldo turned sharply after receiving a cross from Zidane, but his shot went directly at the goalkeeper.
Ronaldo would almost certainly have scored if he had connected with Roberto Carlos' low, hard cross four minutes later, but he was two feet short.
The Brazilian striker then claimed he was pushed by Christian Worns in the Dortmund area, but in fact he appeared to be doing the shoving.
Real made the early second-half running and, from a superb Luis Figo pass, Ronaldo surged into the Dortmund area but Lehmann was equal to his low shot.
On the hour mark, Real had a huge let-off when Roberto Carlos disastrously lost the ball in his penalty area, allowing Koller to cross but Ewerthon headed wide from five yards.
Roberto Carlos then sent a trademark thunderbolt of a free-kick went round the wall but Lehmann punched it to safety.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Lehmann, Metzelder, Madouni, Worns, Dede (Amoroso 90), Evanilson (Ricken 80), Reuter, Kehl, Frings, Ewerthon (Reina 87), Koller. Subs not used: Weidenfeller, Herrlich, Leandro. Booked: Reuter, Evanilson, Worns. Goal: Koller 21.
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado, Helguera, Pavon (Portillo 90), Carlos, Figo (Minambres 71), Makelele, Zidane, Flavio (Guti 67), Ronaldo, Raul. Subs not used: Cesar, Morientes, Cambiasso, Solari. Goal: Portillo 90.
Referee: Graham Poll (England)
