SALT LAKE CITY - Earlier in the day, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon predicted a Real victory.
There was no way Calderon could be wrong, considering Madrid was playing its U.S. namesake Real Salt Lake. But to be sure, Calderon was pleased to see the original Real come away from the friendly with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
The game featured some quality soccer from both sides, was played clean (with one glaring exception), and resulted in a not-too-disappointing result for the home team. A capacity crowd of 45,511 fans were on hand at Rice-Eccles Stadium to see RSL play some strong soccer against one of the most well-known and talented soccer clubs in the world.
Real Salt Lake had the first couple of good scoring chances in the fifth minute when Jeff Cunningham found himself with space to run in the penalty area. Cunningham, however, could not get past Fabio Cannavaro. Seconds later, after a throw-in, Chris Klein tried for a header at the right corner of the goal box but was marked too tightly.
Real Madrid gave itself a couple of good looks in the eighth minute, crossing it through the penalty area twice in a space of five seconds. The support was there, but the finish was not. In the ninth minute, Ruud Van Nistelrooy got the ball without being called offside, but Salt Lake's defense was able to deflect the shot just wide of the goal.
In the opening minutes, Madrid was able to put pressure on Salt Lake's penalty area with both a quick transition game or a direct, over-the-top fashion. Salt Lake had the first shot on goal when Klein put a shot into Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas' chest in the 12th minute.
Salt Lake goalkeeper Scott Garlick showed he was up to the challenge in the 21st minute, making three brilliant saves in the space of 30 seconds. Garlick came off his line to shut down one shot, got up quick and made himself big for a save on the rebound, then knocked wide a shot after a corner kick.
Madrid's Pablo Garcia was shown the first yellow card of the game in the 27th minute for a hard foul on Mehdi Ballouchy. Another foul just seconds later gave Salt Lake a free kick; a quick restart ended up giving Andy Williams a one-hop shot that Casillas was able to save.
In the 29th minute, Klein brought down a high cross from the left and took a shot deflected out by Casillas. Kreis took the rebound shot, but a Madrid defender made the save. On the counter, Madrid's Emerson took a 30-yarder that spun low towards the left post, but the shot missed inches wide.
Salt Lake's controlled game frustrated Madrid for some stretches in the first half; it was the best ball possession Salt Lake had put together all season. But in the 45th minute, Antonio Cassano was pulled down from behind, in the penalty area, by Salt Lake's Willis Forko.
On the subsequent penalty kick, Van Nistelrooy shot to the right as Garlick dove to the left and Madrid went ahead 1-0.
Madrid made five substitutions at halftime; the exhibition rules allowed unlimited subs. Madrid coach Fabio Capello inserted Robinho, Julio Baptista, David Beckham, goalkeeper Diego Lopez and Ruben de la Red. Robinho made his presence felt right away, holding the ball and fighting off several Salt Lake defenders in the 47th minute before shooting the ball. Salt Lake goalkeeper Jay Nolly, a halftime substitution, made the save on the shot and on the rebound attempt.
Salt Lake gave itself some trouble in the 58th minute when Atiba Harris took down Sergio Ramos with a reckless, studs-up foul from behind. Harris, another halftime insertion, was shown a red card and sent off the field. To handle the situation, Salt Lake went to a 4-4-1 with only Cunningham up top.
In the 64th minute, Beckham fouled Cunningham outside the left corber of the penalty area. Andy Williams sent the free kick to Cunnningham, who took a shot that rolled untouched through the six-yard box and just wide of the right post.
Madrid's several halftime substitutions resulted in a much more aggressive style of play. It paid off when Madrid made it a 2-0 game in the 65th minute. Van Nistelrooy gave a back-pass to Robinho, who skipped through the defense and beat Nolly with a right-to-left shot with one touch on the ball.
Salt Lake coach John Ellinger made three substitutions in the 72nd minute, seemingly intending to get some of his younger players some experience against such a strong team. He inserted Douglas Sequeira for Williams, Cameron Knowles for Klein and Nikolas Besagno for Eddie Pope.
The younger players fared well, keeping Madrid out of the goal while playing a man down. But with few offensive options left, Salt Lake was unable to come back and Madrid earned the victory.
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
