Ronaldo nets three, Kaka scores

MADRID (AP):

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick and Kaka scored his first goal since April as Real Madrid twice came from behind to win 4-2 against Villarreal yesterday, keeping the team within two points of Spanish league leader Barcelona.

The Portugal forward made it 1-1 by side-footing home Mesut Oezil's pass in the ninth minute, two minutes after Villarreal midfielder Cani had flicked the ball over goalkeeper Iker Casillas to open the scoring.

Villarreal's slick passing game troubled Madrid and Bruno Soriano's exquisite 18th-minute pass put Ruben Castro through alone on goal to lob Casillas for a 2-1 lead.

However, Ronaldo headed in Xabi Alonso's swerving free kick inside the crowded Villarreal area just before the break to equalise.

Low shot

Ronaldo scrambled to recover a loose ball in the 79th right after blowing an excellent chance in front of goal. He then swivelled before tucking a low shot past goalkeeper Diego Lopez inside the near post for a league-leading 22nd goal.

Second-half substitute Kaka redirected Ronaldo's pass past Lopez for his first goal of the season three minutes later, causing his pumped-up coach Jose Mourinho to urge the Santiago Bernabeu stadium crowd on from the sidelines.

It was Madrid's fifth straight win and the team also has a perfect home record from nine games.

"A very tough game for us," Kaka said. "But in the end we managed another win that is very important for us."

On Saturday, defending champions Barcelona beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 to move to 49 points from 18 games.

"I took a chance and brought Kaka on for Albiol," Mourinho said. "You can't wait to take a chance in a championship where the leader has lost only five points and second place seven. You have to go all out."

Kaka's goal was his first in nine months. The Brazil playmaker recently returned from an injury that had sidelined him since the World Cup.

"To score a goal makes this a very nice night for me," the Brazil playmaker said. "It's special because it's been a long time since I scored a goal."

Mourinho had a water bottle thrown at him after celebrating Kaka's goal right in front of the Villarreal area, causing the visitors' bench to empty with players and officials swarming on the sideline.

"I swear I went to celebrate with my son who was sitting behind the bench and they thought I was trying to be provocative," Mourinho said.