Real Madrid defender Sergio Garcia, right, of Spain, tries to get past Real…
Madrid ended its two-game U.S. tour 1-0-1, three days after tying
DC United 1-1 in Seattle. Although Saturday’s win was a shutout, the game was scoreless until van Nistelrooy’s goal just before halftime as Real Salt Lake kept “Los Galacticos” from pulling away early.
“What I’ve seen after playing these two teams is the level of the league is very good,” Madrid defender Michel Salgado said.
Robinho also scored for Madrid off a touch pass from van Nistelrooy, the latest All-Star to join Madrid. The big Dutchman came over in a trade with Manchester United last month and showed he will fit in just fine in the Spanish capital.
Van Nistelrooy finished with four shots before leaving the game in the 73rd minute.
“I’d take a few of their players,” Salt Lake coach John Ellinger said. “It was a great experience.”
Real Salt Lake had been wanting to get Madrid here ever since naming the MLS expansion club after the European superstars two years ago.
“You can’t be scared against a team like that because they’ll punish you,” Salt Lake midfielder Chris Klein said.
The so-called “friendly” got a little nasty at times Saturday, with plenty of collisions and jersey tugging and a red card issued to Salt Lake’s Atiba Harris in the 58th minute. Harris was ejected for taking out Sergio Ramos by sliding into the Spanish defender with his cleats high.
There was a little jostling after the play as Ramos stayed down, but tempers cooled before Harris was led off the field and the game resumed. About seven minutes later, Robinho took a pass from van Nistelrooy and easily knocked it passed Salt Lake goalkeeper Jay Nolly.
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