Alonso Secures First Real Madrid Victory, Knocks Pachuca Out of CWC
Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler scored late in the first half to help 10-man Real Madrid defeat Pachuca 3-1 in a Group H match played in hot circumstances on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Federico Valverde's diving volley in the 70th minute secured Xabi Alonso's first win as Madrid manager. The triumph gets his side's FIFA Club World Cup campaign back on track after a thrilling 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in Wednesday's opening, and despite defender Raúl Asencio being dismissed early on Sunday.
Real Madrid (1-0-1, 4 points) can advance to the last 16 with a win or draw against RB Salzburg on Thursday in Philadelphia. Al Hilal will play Salzburg in Washington later this Sunday.
Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler scored late in the first half to help 10-man Real Madrid defeat Pachuca 3-1 in a Group H match played in hot circumstances on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Federico Valverde's diving volley in the 70th minute secured Xabi Alonso's first win as Madrid manager. The triumph gets his side's FIFA Club World Cup campaign back on track after a thrilling 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in Wednesday's opening, and despite defender Raúl Asencio being dismissed early on Sunday.
Real Madrid (1-0-1, 4 points) can advance to the last 16 with a win or draw against RB Salzburg on Thursday in Philadelphia. Al Hilal will play Salzburg in Washington later this Sunday.
Despite absorbing pressure for the majority of the first half-hour, the Spaniards surged out to a 2-0 lead in the final 15 minutes.
In the 35th minute, Gonzalo García's fast flick-on set up Fran García on the left. The latter then spotted Bellingham's late run, where he received a square ball and slotted his low finish past Carlos Moreno from 15 yards out.
In the 43rd minute, Güler finished from inside the box on another fluid Madrid move, this time with Gonzalo Garcia providing the last square pass following Trent Alexander-Arnold's first-touch cross.
Pachuca continued to apply pressure after the interval, forcing Courtois to tip Bryan González's early second-half effort over the bar and John Kennedy's 61st-minute long-range rocket just beyond his left post.
The game was held on a temporary grass field. The Carolina Panthers of the National Football League play on an artificial pitch at the stadium. With temperatures in the low 90s Fahrenheit (low 30s Celsius), players were given a water break in the middle of each half.