Real Madrid gained their first three points of the International Champions Cup on Saturday afternoon. Three first half goals was enough to secure a 3-2 victory over Chelsea in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Real’s left back, Marcelo, was the architect of all three of his club's goals in a fantastic shift. For Chelsea, Eden Hazard scored the goals late in the day.
Despite giving up three goals in the first half, Chelsea had the first couple of opportunities of the 90 minutes. Willin sent in a dangerous free kick into the middle of the area. The Chelsea captain, John Terry, found himself all alone in front of the goalkeeper but could not control the ball. It bounced to Nemanja Matic, but the midfielder hit a weak shot at Kiko Casilla. In the 9th minute, Bertrand Traore had a go for the Blues. Unfortunately for the youngster, it was hit straight into the arms of Casilla.
Marcelo shines in opening 45 minutes
Marcelo started the match on fire for the Spanish giants in the 19th minute. He danced into space at the top of the 18-yard-box. No Chelsea defender closed him down and Marcelo let fly with his right foot -- the weaker of his two feet. The ball soared past Asmir Begovic, finding the bottom right corner with exquisite precision.
Real Madrid continued to push towards goal as they looked the better of the two sides in the opening 45 minutes. And seven minutes later, Marcelo struck again. Ola Aina gave possession straight to Marcelo who immediately made a beeline run towards the Chelsea goal. He scampered past would-be defenders, laid the ball off to Marco Asensio, and received it back before hitting a great shot over Begovic.
If you are a youngster playing in the Real Madrid youth academy, how do you get noticed? You score a stunning goal, like the one Mariano Mejía scored in the first half. Real Madrid built the play up wonderfully, playing some one-touch soccer. Marcelo eventually received the ball before finding Mejía with a square ball. Mejía did the rest as he sent a dipping shot that fooled the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Chelsea score two late, but merely consolations
Eden Hazard played for the first time in pre-season, coming on for Pedro in the 65th minute. Last season, Hazard was not at his best until the end of the campaign when he scored a flurry of goals in the last few matches. Today, he scored both of Chelsea’s, in the 80th minute and in the first minute of stoppage time.
During the first goal, Nathaniel Chalobah lifted a ball into space which Hazard chased down. Hazard proceeded to evade the substitute goalkeeper, firing a shot into an empty net. The second goal was scored in similar fashion, but Michy Batshuayi provided the assist this time around.
Coming up
Both Real Madrid and Chelsea have just one more match remaining in the International Champions Cup; they both take place on Wednesday. The Blues will take on AC Milan in Minneapolis, Minnesota as Real Madrid play Bayern Munich in East Rutherford, New Jersey.