Real Madrid warmed up for the new season
with a 5-0 rout of the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Stars to win the
27th edition of the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy on Tuesday.
A David Beckham free kick, an impressive double from Ronaldo, a classy
solo effort from substitute Guti and a late strike from Raul gave Real a
morale-boosting win in the traditional curtain-raiser to their domestic
season.
The game is more likely to be remembered, though, for Jonathan
Woodgate's first appearance in a Real Madrid shirt a year after signing
for the club from Newcastle United for around 20 million euros ($24.47
million).
The 25-year-old England centre-back, who had not played a competitive
match since tearing a thigh muscle in a league match for Newcastle
against Chelsea last April, came on for Ivan Helguera for the final four
minutes of the game.
England captain Beckham got Real off the mark when he curled a trademark
free kick around the wall and inside the far post midway through the
first half.
Ronaldo extended Real's lead five minutes before the break, charging on
to a through ball from Zinedine Zidane and checking inside a defender
before rifling a fierce shot into the top corner.
The Brazilian helped himself to a second 17 minutes before time,
powering on to a pass from Beckham, fending off two defenders and
clipping the ball over keeper Matt Reis and into the net.
Guti added a fourth when he turned a defender inside out and stroked the
ball into the corner and Raul completed the rout just before the final
whistle.
Real's new signings Julio Baptista, Pablo Garcia and Carlos Diogo were
all given run-outs, although none made much of a mark on their first
appearance at the Bernabeu.
England striker Michael Owen, whose future at Real is in the air after
the club's decision to sign Brazilian duo Julio Baptista and Robinho,
came on for the final 10 minutes.
The All-Stars put together some neat passing moves in midfield and
striker Landon Donovan and substitute Jeff Cunningham worked hard to
create space up front but they rarely troubled Real's stand-in keeper
Diego Lopez. |