Late Winner Keeps Madrid and Beckham on Course for Spanish Title

An injury-time winner from Roberto Carlos sealed a 3-2 win for Real Madrid over Recreativo Huelva last night and ensured Fabio Capello's team held on to top spot in La Liga by the slimmest of margins from Barcelona.

Robinho and Ruud van Nistelrooy had put Madrid two goals ahead before a late flurry by Huelva in the last quarter-hour put them level but the Brazilian dinked home with a last-gasp winner.

In Madrid, Barcelona bounced back after their tame 1-1 draw at home with Real Betis last week with a 6-0 trouncing of Atletico - the heaviest ever home league defeat on the rojiblancos. With three games left to play, Real are level on 69 points with Barcelona but they lead the standings thanks to their better head-to-head record. Both teams are assured of a place in the Champions League qualifiers next season.

The Uefa Cup winners Sevilla are two points further back, staying in the hunt for the title with a 2-1 comeback win at Deportivo La Coruea. Valencia are in fourth on 65, four behind the leaders after their 1-0 win away to Real Mallorca.

Real Madrid were under pressure to deliver after Sevilla's win at Deportivo and they made a solid start when Robinho headed in from close range after David Beckham - who could yet win a trophy in Spain before his move to LA Galaxy in July - whipped in a cross from the right in the ninth minute.

Real extended their lead eight minutes into the second half when Van Nistelrooy took his tally for the season to 22 with a penalty given after the Recre keeper Bertrand Laquait brought down Robinho as the Brazilian raced towards the byline.

Recre pulled one back when Jeses Vazquez converted a penalty after substitute Ikechukwu Uche was felled by Sergio Ramos and Real began to look a little nervous.

Uche, who ran the Real defence ragged in the final quarter, made it 2-2 when he fired in from a corner, but Real, who had snatched last-gasp wins over Espanyol and Sevilla in their previous two league outings, refused to throw in the towel.

With practically their last throw of the dice, Roberto Carlos clipped in past Laquait after Fernando Gago had put him in the clear with a clever turn and pass.

Lionel Messi set Barca on their way to an thumping win at a rain-soaked Calderon with an superbly crafted goal six minutes before the break. The Argentinian teenager left the Atletico midfield for dead with an electrifying change of pace, exchanged a one-two with Samuel Eto'o and then fired past Ivan Cuellar. Gianluca Zambrotta, Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Messi and Andres Iniesta completed the rout.

In Brazil the former Barcelona striker Romario scored what he claimed was the 1,000th goal of his career in Vasco da Gama's 3-0 Brazilian championship victory over Sport Recife. He was mobbed by team-mates in the net after converting a 48th-minute penalty and a horde of television and radio commentators invaded the pitch. Romario admits that his tally includes goals scored in youth-team, friendly and testimonial games.