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Beckham makes goal-scoring Real return
MADRID (AFP) - David Beckham made a dramatic goal-scoring return for Real Madrid as the Spanish giants beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to breathe new life into their faltering title campaign.
Ironically, the former England skipper´s performance may also have helped save Fabio Capello´s job.
The Italian coach had vowed Beckham would never play for his team again after signing a 250-million-dollar deal to move to Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States at the end of the season.
But with Madrid in danger of slipping off the championship pace, the 31-year-old Beckham was recalled and he made a fairytale return.
He found the net in the 36th minute with a trademark, right-foot 25-metre free-kick which sneaked around the side of the Sociedad wall and beat Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Mikel Aranburu had given second-from bottom Sociedad a seventh-minute lead when he headed in from close range after Iker Casillas had made a terrible hash of a cross from the right by Xabi Prieto.
Madrid made sure of the three points when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the winner three minutes into the second half. It was the Dutchman´s 11th league goal of the season.
Beckham last played in the 2-0 defeat against Deportivo La Coruna on January 7.
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