LOS ANGELES - Real Madrid flexed their muscle against the LA Galaxy as the Spanish giants imposed their will on Major League Soccer's top club in a 4-1 whitewash before 56,211 at the LA Coliseum on Saturday evening.
The match was Real Madrid's first preseason game of the 2011-12 campaign, but it hardly looked that way. Madrid's deep and talented roster was too much for the Galaxy to handle as Jose Callejon, Joselu, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema did the damage for Real Madrid.
WATCH: Match Highlights
Adam Cristman pulled a goal back for the Galaxy, heading in a rebounded shot in the 67th minute. WATCH NOW
Madrid opened preseason less than one week ago and the club looked rusty and lethargic at the start. About the only player who looked in fine form off the bat was Kaka, who was the Merengues’ most dangerous player early on.
After half-an-hour, Madrid shook off their rust. Sean Franklin took a poor touch in the 31st minute, allowing Real to control the ball. Kaka wound up with it and found Callejon unmarked on the right side of the box. Callejon ripped a shot past Josh Saunders, who’d earlier made several stops to keep it scoreless. WATCH NOW
Nine minutes later Joselu took control of a poor clearance by David Beckham and slipped it past Saunders’ right post, making it 2-0. WATCH NOW
At halftime, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena took off both Landon Donovan and Juan Pablo Angel while Jose Mourinho brought on Ronaldo, Benzema and Xabi Alonso. It was telling.
Ronaldo made an instant impact. Eight minutes into the second half, the attacker took control of the ball outside the box. He danced, side-stepped and drifted past Bryan Jordan and beat second-half substitute Brian Perk from close range. WATCH NOW
Five minutes later, Fabio Coentrao made a nifty run past the Galaxy defense, took control of the ball and crossed to Benzema, who buried the ball past Perk. WATCH NOW
Beckham's first match against his former club came to an end in the 62nd minute when Arena took him out of the game.
READ: Emotional Experience for Beckham
The Galaxy got a goal back when Jovan Kirovski tested second-half substitute Antonio Adan from about 10-yards out. Adan made the save but the rebound came off to Cristman who knocked the ball into the back of the net. WATCH NOW
LA return to action this Wednesday when they host Columbus at The Home Depot Center. Tickets are available for that match, presented by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, for as low as $25. The first 6,000 fans in the gates will also take home a free Galaxy/Natural History Museum lunch bag. BUY NOW
WATCH: Postgame Reaction
The Galaxy face Manchester City in their second and final game of the Herbalife World Football Challenge on Sunday, July 24 at 1 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. Tickets are available for that match as low as $30. Visit lagalaxy.com/worldfootballchallenge for more information.
Related
VIDEO: Galaxy vs Real Madrid Recap
Match Highlights
Mourinho lauds Galaxy's open style
Madrid an emotional experience for Beckham
Depth test against Real Madrid valuable for Galaxy