In a historic afternoon in sunny Southern California, Real Madrid confidently advanced to the finals of the International Champion’s Cup. The match marked the first ever soccer game to be held in Dodger Stadium, the now 51-year old iconic landmark in downtown Los Angeles. It was a beautiful evening in the Golden State and Real Madrid, feeling good after a routine victory over the LA Galaxy in Phoenix in the first round of the tourney, got off to a quick start on the road to the deciding round of the Cup.
The Spaniard team scored its first and only goals within the first 31 minutes to take a 2-0 lead heading into half time. Despite Everton Manager, Roberto Martinez’s high back line defense tactics resulting in two quick off-sides calls against Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, in th 17th minute, Mesut Ozil sent a soaring pass upfield to Ronaldo, who slipped past Everton’s Howard for the first goal.
Everton retaliated with a header by Marouane Fellaine, which just missed the goals as it ricocheted off the post. Another quick attempt on goal was disallowed in minute 30, as Kevin Mirallis was called for jumping Sami Khedira.
As the Blues lamented the missed chance, Real Madrid capitalized on the mood. Luka Modric floated a pass up to a sprinting Ronaldo. In a reverse of the first goal, Ronaldo passed of to Ozil who was able to tap the ball into the goal to give Real Madrid a 2-0 lead.
Everton rallied back in the 61st minute with a goal by Jelavic off a fortuitous pass from Seamus Coleman. The goal drew Everton closer, but in the end the Mourinho’s team secured the 2-1 victory.
Real Madrid will head to the humid heat of Miami for the final against Chelsea this Wednesday evening.
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