Cristiano Will Always Be CR7: CR7 vs. The Galaxy...LA Galaxy :)

David Beckham and his LA Galaxy welcomed the la liga team of Real Madrid to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Unfortunately for Becks, he was in a suit and still recovering from his achilles tendon injury suffered in the spring. He told Fox Soccer before the match that it was "killing me to walk onto to the pitch in a suit." I'm sure it was doubly hard not to play, especially against his old club.
His number-sake from United, Cristiano (number 7) also started on the bench for the Galacticos. Mourinho chose a strange mix for the match, with Benzema up top, some veterans in Ramos (capt.), Van der Vaart, Lass, Diarra, Drenthe (worthless), and peppered with a greenhorn like di Maria (the new signing from Benfica), and semi-greenhorn Granero.

Both teams started off a little disheveled, although LA had two good chances within the first ten minutes, when Edson Buddle smacked two hard balls directly at Jerzy Dudek, who failed to handle both balls. They were eventually cleared but not before the RM crowd gasped.

Di Maria had the best chances for RM. Two shots, one that was barely cleared by Donovan Ricketts and then another cracker that was just off-target.
The Galaxy did a great job in the first half of clearing away dangerous balls from Real, which exasperated the RM wingers. They're not used to teams defending in la liga!

Donovan took a great shot on goal in the 38', that was just wide! Then just a few minutes later, Gonzalez headed a ball off the post that Dunivant finally knocked in after some considerable pinball action in the box. 1-0 LA.
Franklin did a nice job down the right, outrunning his mark on the wing, and was feeding several balls in that just didn't connect with Buddle and company.
Right at halftime, Royston Drenthe kicked Juninho in the chest and face, which resulted in a penalty for the Galaxy. Landon Donovan took the shot and scored! 2-0.

The second half saw many changes for Real. Cristiano came on for di Maria, and Alonso, Canales, Leon, Higuain, Marcelo, Casillas and Gago also came on. Canales is learning well...diving for a freekick in the 50'. CR7 let it fly like he was playing for USC and kicking an extra point.
In the 52', the number 7 fed a great ball to Higuain who put it through the legs of Saunders, although he had a touch on it. 2-1.
Every time Ronny touched the ball, it sounded like a horde of 15-year-old girls screaming. haha.

The tempo raised in the second half, as did the diving by Real. Higuain was "pulled down" in the 57' which gave Cristiano another shot with a freekick...denied.
Higuain scored, but it was called off-sides. Very close, but still a good call by the linesman.
Cristiano had another shot, when he was one-on-one with Saunders, but the keeper saved for a corner. It was bounced around, but cleared halfway, then it fell to Higuain, who scored. 2-2.
It was a mistake to pull Ricketts from the goal.
Bruce Arena also made some changes early on in the second half for the Galaxy, with Donovan, Juninho, and Burkhalder making way.
In the 69' Higuain tried to feed Ronny in the box, but Leonardo cleared it before CR7 could touch it.
On the rebound of the corner, the Galaxy had a great chance when McGee nutmeged Marcelo, but then instead of passing to Klein who was open, he skied it over the goal.
In the 71' Real took the lead when Saunders knocked a strong shot by Higuain back into the sights of Xabi Alonso, who chipped it home after a slight deflection. 3-2.
At this point, I think both teams were subbed out for a complete new eleven.
Also at this point, Cristiano felt the need to do stepovers...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody falls for that anymore. A sign that the circus is in town.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....pretty much summed up the last part of the match. Final score 3-2.
The Irreal Madridiots don't have their names on the back of their kits, which can only mean one thing...someone will still be leaving. Last year they made the mistake of excessing Sneijder and Robben, who found their revenge by playing against each other in the Champions League final IN MADRID!
Let's see if the Merengues make the same mistake.
One absent member of the traveling circus, and a disappointment in my book, was Zizou. Zidane, who is an ambassador for the club, did not appear in pre-season. Boooooooooooo! :)