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Real Madrid showcased their resilience in sweltering Charlotte heat, defeating Mexican club Pachuca 3-1 in the Club World Cup despite playing with 10 men for most of the match. First-half strikes from Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, coupled with Federico Valverde’s stunning second-half volley, secured a commanding victory for the Spanish giants.
The match began disastrously for Real Madrid, with defender Raul Asensio receiving a red card in the seventh minute for denying Salomon Rondon a clear goal-scoring opportunity just outside the penalty area. Referee Ramon Abatti sent him off, leaving Real to battle with a numerical disadvantage.
Despite the setback, Real Madrid regrouped and dominated late in the first half. In the 35th minute, Fran Garcia’s low cut-back found Bellingham, who finished clinically to open the scoring. Eight minutes later, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s precise one-touch cross was met by Gonzalo Garcia, who squared the ball to Arda Guler. The young Turkish star calmly doubled the lead.
Pachuca took control in the second half, unleashing 25 shots, 11 of which were on target. However, Real’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stood tall, making 10 crucial saves to keep his team in the lead. In the 70th minute, Valverde sealed the victory with a spectacular sliding volley from a square pass, making it 3-0.
Pachuca managed a consolation goal in the 80th minute through Elias Montiel’s deflected shot, but it was too little, too late.
This win places Real Madrid in a strong position in Group H with 4 points from two matches. A draw against RB Salzburg in Philadelphia on Thursday will secure their place in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Pachuca, having lost both their matches, are eliminated from the group stage.
Notably, the match was played on a temporary grass pitch at the Carolina Panthers’ NFL stadium, typically equipped with artificial turf. Due to the intense heat, water breaks were implemented in each half.
AI/MR
