ICC soccer in Miami
More than 64,000 show for finale of ICC
Manchester United 2, Real Madrid 1.
MIAMI GARDENS — In the finale of the International Champions Cup’s week in MiTuesday, ami, Tuesday night’s game between Real Madrid and Manchester United, was likely what Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross and company had in mind when the ICC began.
The game had stars with the likes of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, the Real Madrid forwards and Alexis Sanchez and David De Gea, Manchester United’s striker and goalkeeper. Benzema and Sanchez, in particular, showed their skill in the match, scoring a goal each in Manchester United's 2-1 victory.
But along with the strong play, which was consistent with the play in Hard Rock Stadium the past several days, Tuesday’s match attendance surpassed the other games. Throughout the weekend, the stands were not very close to full.
64,141 soccer fans packed into the seats.
It took a few minutes for the action to begin, but when it did, it was hot and heavy.
Manchester United began things in the 18th minute, as defender Matteo Darmian sent a ground cross into the box, where Sanchez was waiting.
Sanchez got his right foot on it and fired it past Madrid goalkeeper Francisco Casilla.
Nine minutes later, Sanchez was in the middle of another quality chance.
Forward Juan Mata got free with the ball down the right side. He waited for a beat before sending a cross to Sanchez. But the striker was well-covered, so he flicked the ball backward with his head, where midfielder Ander Herrera got a left-footed strike past Casilla again to make it, 2-0.
From there, the Manchester defense played strongly, snuffing out any chances for Madrid.
It wasn’t until added time in the first half that a perfect cross from Madrid defender Theo Hernandez found the foot of Benzema, who cut the Manchester lead in half before the midway point by poking it into the net.
Things slowed down almost immediately in the second half, as Madrid subbed out Benzema and Bale coming out of the locker room.
Madrid still got some good chances as time expired, but they couldn’t beat De Gea, and the halftime score held up.