soccerchic
Apr 27 2003, 11:37 PM
Real Sociedad now trail league leaders Real Madrid by four points after losing 2-1 to Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Javier Saviola and Patrick Kluivert put the Catalans in charge with first-half goals, and although Nihat hit back with an 80th minute strike, it was too little too late for the Basques.
After just a minute Sander Westerveld saved at point blank range from Juan Pablo Sorin, and after Kluivert had threatened, Barca keeper Victor Valdes saw his kick rebound off Darko Kovacevic but luckily for him the ball didn't end up flying into the net.
It was all Barca and on 13 minutes they got the lead they deserved when Saviola latched on to Juan Riquelme's clever through-ball and applied the finish.
Then, following Marc Overmars' cross, Javier Saviola came close at the near post, and the ball fell to Riquelme whose shot was blocked by a defender.
On 22 Gabri found the side-netting with a shot, but shortly after it was 2-0 when Kluivert headed Overmars' right-wing cross into the top corner.
Sociedad did come into the match as the half wore on and Valdes had to be on his mettle to save headers from Kovacevic and Valeri Karpin.
After the break, the Basques came close when Kovacevic shot narrowly wide at the near post, and the same man could have done better a few minutes later. He was faced with Valdes and Frank De Boer in front of the Barca goal, but couldn't get his shot away. The ball fell to Javier De Pedro who fired over.
Riquelme also lacked a killer instinct at the other end when after being put through by a brilliant Overmars through-ball, he cut back and lost out instead of shooting first time.
Sociedad had the hulk of the second-half chances, with Nihat heading a Karpin cross wide, before the Russian almost turned in Aranzabal's cross.
With ten minutes remaining the Basques got the goal they probably deserved when after being brought down on the edge of the box by Motta, Nihat struck a free-kick that was deflected into the net.
Barca then had a couple of chances to make it 3-1, with Boris in danger of heading a Nano cross into his own goal.
Barca hearts' fluttered late on as Xabi Alonso saw a powerful shot well saved by Valdes but Raddy Antic's men held on to keep their Euro hopes alive.
Javier Saviola and Patrick Kluivert put the Catalans in charge with first-half goals, and although Nihat hit back with an 80th minute strike, it was too little too late for the Basques.
After just a minute Sander Westerveld saved at point blank range from Juan Pablo Sorin, and after Kluivert had threatened, Barca keeper Victor Valdes saw his kick rebound off Darko Kovacevic but luckily for him the ball didn't end up flying into the net.
It was all Barca and on 13 minutes they got the lead they deserved when Saviola latched on to Juan Riquelme's clever through-ball and applied the finish.
Then, following Marc Overmars' cross, Javier Saviola came close at the near post, and the ball fell to Riquelme whose shot was blocked by a defender.
On 22 Gabri found the side-netting with a shot, but shortly after it was 2-0 when Kluivert headed Overmars' right-wing cross into the top corner.
Sociedad did come into the match as the half wore on and Valdes had to be on his mettle to save headers from Kovacevic and Valeri Karpin.
After the break, the Basques came close when Kovacevic shot narrowly wide at the near post, and the same man could have done better a few minutes later. He was faced with Valdes and Frank De Boer in front of the Barca goal, but couldn't get his shot away. The ball fell to Javier De Pedro who fired over.
Riquelme also lacked a killer instinct at the other end when after being put through by a brilliant Overmars through-ball, he cut back and lost out instead of shooting first time.
Sociedad had the hulk of the second-half chances, with Nihat heading a Karpin cross wide, before the Russian almost turned in Aranzabal's cross.
With ten minutes remaining the Basques got the goal they probably deserved when after being brought down on the edge of the box by Motta, Nihat struck a free-kick that was deflected into the net.
Barca then had a couple of chances to make it 3-1, with Boris in danger of heading a Nano cross into his own goal.
Barca hearts' fluttered late on as Xabi Alonso saw a powerful shot well saved by Valdes but Raddy Antic's men held on to keep their Euro hopes alive.