Final: Galaxy-Real Madrid

Galaxy 2 Real Madrid 3

i-5acd1968e4306c57a209e5c6fb7dbe2c-ronaldorun.jpgThe crowd buzzed whenever Cristiano Ronaldo, seen here sprinting away from Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant, touched the ball with his eye-catching cleats in the second half (AP Photo).

Five goals, 89,134 in attendance and hundreds of popping flash bulbs every time Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball, his feet shimmying.

As if to drive home that last point, a Ronaldo rocket hit the side netting in stoppage time.

i-4c20797082361f646da2b36e534c1bcf-Realcrunch.jpgReal crunch: Real’s Royston Ricky Drenthe (surely one of the best names in football) lays into Juninho in the first half (AP Photo).

Quite a show.

Real quite simply took over offensively in the second half with some mesmerizing moves – back heels, inch-perfect passes into the box. The sight of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain in sync must be scaring the hell out of La Liga defenders right now.

The crowd roared its appreciation at the final whistle.

And yeah, the crowd filled in.

Notable: Real Madrid had a dozen shots in the second half as they turned on the style, the Galaxy could manage just one.

Post-game quotes:

“It was a big day for me,” said now-retired Galaxy midfielder Clint Mathis. “It was a great opportunity for me to end my career with the same team in the same stadium where I started it.”

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs in my career, but none that I would ever regret,” Mathis said.

“Certainly, the exhibition put on by (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Gonzalo) Higuain in the second half was something special,” Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said. “One thing I learned is that Real Madrid probably have a better team than we do.”

Updated

*Game story here.

i-a48a536d66e66f40781ecaa7a94ceb13-realbecks.jpgPushing too hard (again)? David Beckham, seen here at the Galaxy game against his old club Sunday, reckons he will be ready to return next month; his doctors say October is more realistic (AP Photo).

*David Beckham plots Galaxy comeback.

*Game, night and career over for Clint Mathis.

All three of Real Madrid’s goals get better every time you see them.

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