Edson Buddle discusses Real Madrid (Photo by MT)
By Mike Takeuchi
Pasadena-Despite a 2-0 halftime lead over one of the world's best soccer clubs, I am sure the Los Angeles Galaxy knew that the deluge would be coming. After all, despite being the best domestic team in this country, the Galacticos were playing Real Madrid, one of the world's best soccer clubs. And sure enough, Real Madrid exerted its talent and will in the second half in a 3-2 friendly win before 89, 134 fans at the Rose Bowl.
Like a cat playing with its prey before the inevitable, Real Madrid gave the Galaxy hope in building a 2-0 lead on first half goals by Todd Dunivant and Landon Donovan, and then came back to win a match that was not nearly as close as the score indicated.
Despite having started their preseason fairly recently, the Spanish team showed their superiority in spurts. Two goals by Argentina's wondrous forward Gonzalo Higuain, and the game-winner by Pedro Leon (according to the Real Madrid Web site and not Xabi Alonso as originally reported) in, were the result of a constantly pressing second half spent almost entirely in the Los Angeles zone, particularly by Portuguese superstar Christiano Ronaldo.
Even without injured Brazilian striker Kaka', with the players skill, speed, pace, and precision that Real Madrid exhibited, the fans got an up close view of European soccer at its finest in the second half. Even Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena who arrived with no delusions on a win, yet came away impressed.
“I think the fans enjoyed the game and certainly the exhibition by Ronaldo and Higuain was something special,” the former U.S. National Team coach said. “Our motivation in the game was to put on a good show and to allow the people in L.A. to see this fabulous team Real Madrid. The result is not that important as much as putting on a good exhibition and allowing the fans to enjoy the show.”
After watching a TIVO broadcast of the game upon my return home, I noticed that the cameras couldn't capture the true nature of how impressive Real Madrid was. Time and again, the Spanish club's players would beat even the fastest Galaxy players down the field, Plus, the chemistry between Ronaldo and Higuain, or, Pipa, two players who had as many World Cup goals (five) as Galaxy and National Team members Donovan and Edson Buddle had in games played in South Africa, reminded this writer of the Lakers Magic Johnson and James Worthy in their prime.
“Their pace and movement were very impressive,” Buddle said.
Equally impressive was Real's ability to quickly recover on change of possessions to make it a real easy second half for goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The only time that Casillas, Spain's National Team hero and the No. 1 ranked keeper in the world, touched the ball, is when his teammates pulled back to regroup and kick the ball to him.
Their talent wasn't limited to play on the field.
After the game, as Higuain, Ronaldo, Alonso, and Casillas exited the locker room amidst the din of the phenomenon of the mix zone, a fenced off area where reporters vie with fans in trying to get players attention, they exhibited the same skills on the field as they escaped questions to get on the bus. But these players didn't seem to be running away as much as they were running towards home to start a season in which they will try to topple La Liga Barcelona.
Au Revoir Clint
Saturday's match also marked the retirement of longtime National Team staple Clint Mathis. The former Mohawked coiffed forward is best known for his goal for the U.S. in their 1-1 draw with South Korea in the 2002 World Cup.
Nice gesture by coach Bruce Arena and the Galaxy in selecting retiring forward Clint Mathis to be the captain. In addition to presenting him with a jersey signed by the team, he presented the team crest to Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos prior to the game. Mathis received a standing ovation when he walked off the field in the 27th minute.
“It was special, 90,000 people out there,” Mathis said. “Not too many American soccer players get to play in front of crows like that. But it was a special night for me, I thought it was great.”
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