Ronaldo scores as Real thrash Galaxy

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]




LOS ANGELES: Cristiano Ronaldo netted a deft second-half goal as Real Madrid dominated David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday in a 4-1 friendly victory.

Jose Callejon and Joselu scored in the first-half and Frenchman Karim Benzema converted a header after the interval as the Spanish giants emphatically shook of the rust in their first pre-season match.

Ronaldo, who set La Liga's scoring record with 40 goals last season, came on at half-time.

Eight minutes later he gained control of the ball outside the area and used some fancy footwork to elude three defenders and fire a crisp left-footed shot inside the near post.

It was just the kind of display the crowd of 56,211 had come to see at Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum, which hosted the match rather than Galaxy's smaller Home Depot Center ground in the suburb of Carson.

Beckham wore the captain's armband for the Galaxy against his former team but failed to make an impact before departing in the 61st minute.

Adam Cristman scored the Galaxy's only goal with a header in the 67th minute.

Madrid opened the scoring in the 31st, when Kaka found new signing Callejon unmarked on the right side of the area and Callejon belted a shot past Josh Saunders.

Nine minutes later reserve striker Joselu gained control of a poor clearance by Beckham and slipped it past Saunders' right post to double the score.

At half-time, Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena took off both Landon Donovan and Juan Pablo Angel while Jose Mourinho brought on Ronaldo, Benzema and Xabi Alonso.

Ronaldo's 53rd-minute goal soon followed, and five minutes later Fabio Coentrao made a run past the Galaxy defense and crossed to Benzema, who buried the ball past Brian Perk.

Real Madrid continue their North American tour on Wednesday when they play Mexican club Chivas of Guadalajara at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

The Spanish club is one of several European sides warming up for the season in North America. Spanish rivals Barcelona, English Premier League clubs Manchester United and Manchester City and Italian club Juventus all have friendlies scheduled in the coming weeks.