In an entertaining friendly played in a resplendent Tallaght Stadium the Hoops came close to claiming a draw against their illustrious opponents but fell to a late strike from the impressive Karim Benzema. On a dry calm and warm evening the Hoops played with real spirit and ensured the Galacticos of Madrid had to work hard in their first pre-season friendly.
Ronaldo and Raul started for the Spanish giants and they were quickly in their stride with Barry Murphy forced into a save from Marcelo after 6 minutes. Daragh Maguire made the first of many good defensive tackles in the 8th minute and a minute later Murphy was called on again to save.
Sean O’Connor set the home crowd alight after 10 minutes when he cut in from right-hand side to fire a shot narrowly wide of Dudek’s goal. Stephen Rice made a vital block in the 17th minute as Madrid started to keep possession and look for openings.
Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take a free-kick from a dangerous position on 21 minutes but he fired wide off Murphy’s left-hand post. However a minute later the Hoops hit back with Robinson just narrowly failing to meet Rice’s cross. Guti tried his luck from just outside the box after 24 minutes and went very close.
A Robinson corner was just too high for Maguire on 26 minutes and at the other end Raul got the better of Maguire to meet a fine cross but Murphy was well-placed to save his header.
The game continued to entertain and Ronaldo was eager to impress his new employers and he ran at the Hoops defence but Maguire brilliantly intervened to block Raul’s shot. Referee Kelly awarded a harsh free-kick against Flynn right outside the box and Ronaldo again tried his luck but the wall did its job and blocked his effort.
Straight away at the other end Padraig Amond stretched to meet a through ball but couldn’t direct his shot on goal. Murphy was quick off his line to snuff out a dangerous ball behind the Hoops defence after 40 minutes before the final action of an entertaining first half saw Murphy block a dangerous shot from Raul from 8 yards out.
The depth of Madrid’s squad was clearly shown when they made 10 changes at half-time but still fielded a powerful side. The Hoops made seven changes themselves abut continued to battle hard. Van der Vaart flashed a shot across goal early in the second half and Stephen Rice got into a good position in the box but failed to get his shot in. Good play from Rovers after 53 minutes saw Bradley earn a corner before van der Vaart shot narrowly wide.
Karim Benzema was introduced at half-time and he began to make his presence felt when shooting past Duggan after 55 minutes but the ball hit the inside of the post. Duggan did well to hold another good shot on the hour but a fine cross from Treacy after 65 minutes just eluded Bradley with O’Connor’s follow up shot blocked. Bradley’s corner fell to Purcell and he steered the ball unintentionally past Dudek but a defender was on hand to clear off the line.
Quick thinking by Purcell on 67 minutes saw him send Baker away on a run behind the Madrid defence but he fired his volley over the cross-bar.
Rafael van der Vaart’s spectacular overhead kick was brilliantly touched over by Duggan before Dessie Baker was presented with a wonderful chance in front of the Madrid goal but his touch deserted him and Dudek did enough to avert the danger.
Benzema again showed his class when he forced Madden to clear off the line as the game entered the last 10 minutes but he wasn’t to be denied with a couple of minutes remaining when he latched on to a through ball to slot the ball past the advancing Duggan.
Sneijder went close in added-on time for Madrid as Rovers tried in vain to equalise but the Hoops can take a lot of pride from their overall performance on a special night in the short history of Tallaght Stadium.
