Football Update: Real Madrid Edges out LA Galaxy in a friendly at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rose-c86842 Bowl
The most expensive club in European competition Real Madrid succeeded in dismantling the Los Angeles Galaxy in a friendly match after conceding a two goal lead in the first half in front of some 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.
The Spanish giants gave a great performance in the second half, as they rung in the changes after an ordinary start by their bench strength in the first half of the match.
The match was part of their North American pre-season preparatory tour, which was attended by a mammoth crowd that wanted to see some of the leading names in international football in action in a competitive match, which was an ideal opportunity for the players to flex their muscles.
The Real management was more than happy with the work out they got, as the LA Galaxy team forced them to bring their A game on the field, as the hosts took a two goal lead in the first half of the match.
The hosts scored a goal with barely five minutes before the end of the first half; the goal scorer was defender http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Todd-c94162 Dunivant.
Dunivant was able to get through a pack of Real players to make the most of a scramble at the goal mouth that had risen out of a corner kick.
The Los Anglers doubled their advantage a few minutes before the break, courtesy a goal from American world cup star Landon Donovan.
The play maker converted a penalty kick, as Real goal keeper Jerzy Dudek failed to stop the effort, the opportunity had arrived after a dramatic foul by Galaxy defender Royston Drenthe.
Down by two goals, the Spanish giants brought out some of their best talent on the pitch in a bid to thwart the hosts and their rampaging forwards led by Donovan.
There were as many as eight substitutions at the break with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas amongst the ones who made it to the pitch in the second session of the match.
Ronaldo regarded as one of the finest players in the world alongside, Real’s rival Barcelona Lionel Messi was the main attraction in the second half, as he helped his team claw back in contention.
Real’s newly installed coach Jose Mourinho, who took Inter Milan to three titles last season was a worried man at the break, yet he has his leading men raring to go in the second half and help redeem the team from the prospects of an embarrassing result in front of a mammoth crowd.
Real was indebted to their Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, who had a great run for his country in the world cup leading the team to the quarterfinals.
Higuain got the first goal for his team in the 52nd minute of the match, as he made the most of a pass from Portugal captain Ronaldo.
The Portuguese star showed the crowd a glimpse of his abilities as he scored a goal himself but his effort was saved by LA goal keeper Josh Saunders.
Higuain was a man possessed as he helped his team equalize the match through a corner kick with a deft chip that landed in Galaxy’s goal.
The visitors scored the winning goal in the 71st minute of the match through defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
The defender struck a looping shot from the edge of the box, and was great full to a deflection that ended in the net.
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