Zidane’s Goal Is a Winner

No Roberto Carlos, no Ronaldo, no problem for Real Madrid.

The Spanish league leader shook off the absences of two of its top players and got a 32nd-minute goal from Zinedine Zidane for a 1-0 victory Wednesday and 2-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich to reach the quarterfinals of the European Champions League.

Roberto Carlos was serving a one-game suspension for hitting an opponent in the face, and Ronaldo sat out because of an injury.

Real Madrid, a nine-time European champion, was one of four powerhouse teams to advance.

AC Milan, last season’s champion, cruised to a 4-1 home victory over Sparta Prague on two goals by Andriy Shevchenko.

Arsenal, the leader in the English Premier League, also had an easy time in a 2-0 victory over Celta de Vigo of Spain. Arsenal, which got both goals from Thierry Henry, won, 5-2, on aggregate.

AS Monaco, the French league leader, defeated visiting Lokomotiv Moscow, 1-0, on a 60th-minute goal by Dado Prso. The teams tied, 2-2, on aggregate, but Monaco advanced on away goals.

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Mexico Wins

Diego Martinez and Omar Bravo scored first-half goals to lead Mexico to a 2-1 victory over Ecuador at Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, in a friendly involving 2002 World Cup participants and teams that will be in the same group for this summer’s Copa America in Peru.

Martinez, who plays for Necaxa in the Mexican league, scored in the 17th minute on a penalty kick. Bravo, a forward for Chivas of Guadalajara, scored on a left-footed volley in the 30th minute off a cross from Luis Perez.

A minute after Bravo’s goal, Mexico’s Salvador Carmona was called for a hand ball in his penalty area. Ecuador’s Edison Mendez converted the resulting penalty kick.

Mexico next plays Costa Rica on March 31 at the Home Depot Center.

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Moreno Plays

Galaxy forward Alejandro Moreno started and played the first half and Venezuela beat Honduras, 2-1, in a friendly at Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Daniel Noriega scored the winner in the 52nd minute after the teams were tied, 1-1, at halftime.

Luis Vera scored Venezuela’s first goal on a penalty kick in the 36th minute. Honduras had tied the score in the 39th minute on a free kick into the upper left corner of the net by Walter Lopez.

It was Moreno’s second international appearance.

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Voeller Speaks

Germany Coach Rudi Voeller quelled the feud involving goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn by insisting that Kahn was still the team’s No. 1 choice and that the coach would not put up with any more criticism from Lehmann.

Last month, Lehmann criticized Kahn’s recent play and told Kicker Magazine that “I can’t really say anyone’s better than me.” Lehmann also questioned Kahn’s private life.

“It won’t happen again and I wouldn’t tolerate it,” Voeller said. “I told him clearly that Oliver is the No. 1 and he has to behave accordingly.”

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Vieri Suspended

Inter Milan forward Christian Vieri was suspended for today’s UEFA Cup game against Portugal’s Benfica after receiving a red card last week against France’s Sochaux.

The suspension was announced by UEFA, European soccer’s governing body.

UEFA also suspended Bordeaux’s Kodjo Afanou for three games because of violent conduct in last week’s match against Poland’s Groclin.

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Del Piero Injured

Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero injured his right calf playing for Juventus in a Champions League match Tuesday and might not be ready for Euro 2004.

The ANSA news agency in Italy said Del Piero could be out until the beginning of May, which might not be enough time for him to regain his fitness for Italy’s first game on June 14.

-- Compiled by Jim Barrero