Despite having only a few days to play together, the Generation adidas team got its tour off to a great start with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid’s reserve side, on Thursday morning.
Sporting Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury and Columbus Crew midfielder Dilly Duka notched goals in the first half, and the Merengues’ Salinas pulled one back in the second.
Real Madrid controlled the early going, keeping the MLS side pinned in their own half. But after weathering the initial storm, the GA midfield began to settle down and regained control of the match. With solid play from midfielders Amobi Okugo and Duka, the GA side began to pick out the forward line, and the tandem of Bunbury and New York striker Juan Agudelo started to create problems for the Madrid defense.
The first goal came in the 22nd minute. A deep run from Houston’s Danny Cruz on the left flank resulted in a low, driven cross into the area. Agudelo flicked the ball onto the feet of Bunbury, who calmly slotted his shot past Real Madrid goalkeeper Isaac.
The GAs’ second goal came 15 minutes later, this time being generated on the right side of the field. Bunbury received the ball wide and, after getting past several defenders, whipped a cross into the area. A clearing attempt by central defender Jaime landed at the feet of Duka, who placed his driven shot low and just inside the right post to give the GAs a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Real Madrid made two attacking changes at the break, bringing on Poley and Salinas. The GA side inserted Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson in place of Toronto’s Stefan Frei. The second half started as the first one ended, with the GAs keeping the pressure on Madrid for the first 20 minutes, but none of the good chances were converted.
After both teams made more changes, the game lost its flow, and Real Madrid were able to get back in the game. They pulled back a goal in the 68th minute, taking advantage of a poor defensive clearance. Salinas latched onto the loose ball, dribbled past several defenders, and struck a low shot past Johnson.
The GA team next plays on Tuesday against Rayo Vallecano at the City of Fútbol in Madrid.
Real Madrid Castilla: 1-Isaac, 2-Capote, 3-Jorge Casado, 4-Pablo Gil, 5-Jaime, 6-Merchán, 7-Raúl Ruiz (15-Morata 72'), 8-Jordi (17-Josep 72'), 9-Cristian (16-Salinas 46'), 10-Fran Rico (14-Poley 46'), 11-Javier Hernández
GA: 0-S. Frei (1-S. Johnson 46), 15-A. Wiedeman, 24-I. Opara (23-J. McInerney 61), 22-B. Shea, 26-J. Hall, 33-A. Okugo, 21-B. Husidic, 13-D. Cruz (18-L. Gil 72), 11-D. Duka (16- C. Bone 59), 25-T. Bunbury, 20-J. Agudelo (P. Marosevic 54)
Shots on goal: RM 3, GA 4
Saves: RM 2, GA 2
Corners: RM 6, GA 2
Fouls: RM 7, GA 21
Cautions: Shea 86', Husidic 88'
Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias
AR # 1: Daniel Carrasquilla López
AR # 2: Emilio Borja Belmonte
