MELBOURNE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid overcame wet conditions and an injury-depleted Manchester City on Friday to secure its first trophy of the preseason, winning the International Champions Cup in Melbourne.
An Australian record soccer crowd of 99,382 packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to witness Spanish giants to inflict a 4-1 defeat on the Citizens, with most of the damage being done in an entertaining first half.
Star strikers Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored their first goals under manager Rafael Benitez, while Pepe and Denis Cherychev were the beneficiaries of two stunning Isco crosses for Real.
Manchester City's consolation came in the form of a controversial penalty against Sergio Ramos for handball, which was duly put away by acting City captain and stalwart Yaya Toure.
In stark contrast to Real's first hit-out in Australia, the tempo was set early by City attackers Samir Nasri and new signing Raheem Sterling, who looked lively early. Sterling, to a chorus of boos around the MCG, was able to put pressure on the Madrid defense through his dangerous dashing through the forward half.
Fans of both teams had to hold their breath after just ten minutes however; a huge scare came when a dangerous foray from City resulted in Toure going down.
He was on the wrong end of an errant but accidental elbow to the head from Madrid goalkeeper Keilor Navas. Both players were down for some time before Toure was deemed fit to return.
The night got dirtier for City; in the 18th minute, new signing Fabian Delph was stretchered off with a hamstring injury, and it proved to be the turning point as Madrid piled on two goals in the ten minutes following.
City's defense looked shaky trying to fill the holes left by Delph and regular starters Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala who did not take place in the game, and Madrid was able to take full advantage.
In the 20th minute, Dani Carvajal was able to turn his man on the wing before lacing a through-ball to Gareth Bale. His low cross whipped in behind striker Karim Benzema who, off a step, steadied himself - blasting a stunning volley past City's Joe Hart.
Ronaldo joined the party just four minutes later. The beneficiary of a perfectly placed lobbed ball from Toni Kroos, the champion trapped it with his first touch before poking it at Hart who managed to get a hand on the ball before its momentum carried it over the line.
Finishing with his trademark celebration, the Portuguese international thrilled the record crowd, later dummying Joe Hart from six yards, flicking it over the keeper's head, but just out for a goal kick.
City's best chance in the early stages came thanks to Toure, who managed to force his way past through two defenders and enter the box, only to be stopped willingly by Marcelo as he attempted to get a shot away.
Aside from that rare push forward, it was all Madrid until the last minute of the half. Isco swung in a beautiful cross to an unmarked Pepe in the 44th minute, the veteran heading the ball past a flat-footed Hart, before a late consolation penalty was awarded to City's Raheem Sterling in injury time.
Loading...
Loading...
