Rejuvenated Kaka inspires Real victory

Reuters:  A rejuvenated Kaka scored one goal and had a hand in two more as nine-times European Cup winners Real Madrid thumped Ajax Amsterdam 3-0 to seize control of Champions League Group D on Tuesday.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 25th minute at the Bernabeu, finishing off a sweeping breakaway move. Brazil playmaker Kaka and France striker Karim Benzema then struck either side of halftime.

“It was a good win and puts us in a good position in the group,” Kaka told Spanish television.

“We need to continue like this and I think we can seal the group very soon,” added the 29-year-old who was given a rousing ovation when he was substituted in the 75th minute. Kaka joined Real from AC Milan at the end of the 2008-09 season for a fee of almost 70 million euros ($95.4 million) but a series of injuries have prevented him rediscovering the form that won him the World Player of the Year award in 2007. He looked back to his sparkling best on Tuesday as Real, who were knocked out by bitter rivals and eventual champions Barcelona in last year’s semi-finals, strengthened their hold on top spot with six points from two matches. Olympique Lyon have four points thanks to their 2-0 win at home to Dinamo Zagreb, with Ajax on one point in third and the Croatian team bottom on zero.