Lazio come from behind to hold Real

ROME, Oct 3 (Reuters) Two goals from Goran Pandev allowed Lazio to come from behind and earn a 2-2 draw with Group C rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League today.

Ruud van Nistelrooy poked in a Wesley Sneijder freekick in the eighth minute to give the Spanish champions the lead but the Macedonia striker replied with a venomous volley in the 32nd.

Real regained their advantage 16 minutes after the break when Dutchman Van Nistelrooy raced unopposed on to goal after Raul had split open the Lazio defence with a smart pass.

Pandev earned his side a point with powerful shot from the edge of the area in the 75th.

The Serie A team made a bright start but were soon caught out when Sneijder's freekick filtered through to the former Manchester United forward.

Defender Guglielmo Stendardo headed a Luciano Zauri freekick into the penalty to set up Pandev's first.

Before the equaliser, the Macedonian had wasted two great chances, blasting a shot over the bar with only Real keeper Iker Casillas to beat and going alone instead of passing when the defence was outnumbered.

Lazio's 43-year-old keeper Marco Ballotta, the oldest footballer to have played in the Champions League group stage, did well to save two Van Nistelrooy efforts after the break.

Substitute Stephen Makinwa could have won it for Lazio at the death, but he rifled a shot at Casillas from a good position.

REUTERS SBA AS0254