Real Madrid Win 2-0 in Friendly Against Kuwait NT

Real Madrid traveled to Kuwait Tuesday morning to close out the season with a friendly against the country's national team.  José Mourinho stated in a presser that the team was "here to play, not be tourists," with Iker Casillas echoing the sentiment saying "we're here to play a great game and to win."  And win they did.  Los Blancos put an end to the '11/'12 season with a 2-0 victory against the Kuwait NT, goals from Ángel Di María and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al-Kuwait Sports Club stadium was filled to capacity, the match starting with a lot of pomp and circumstance, with firework displays and fans blowing vuvuzelas in the stands.  Cristiano made a first goal attempt with a header following a cross from Mesut Özil, but nothing came of it.  It would be Di María who opened the score sheet at the 27' minute mark, with a left-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.  Cristiano got his goal minutes later at the 31', with a – would you guess it – a header from very close range.  The Portuguese all-star made a few more attempts throughout the half, but none resulted in goal.   Nevertheless, he received cheers from Kuwaiti fans for every move.

Del Bosque Announces Round-Up for Spain's Upcoming Friendlies

La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque announced the players he's tabbed for international duty in friendlies against Serbia and South Korea.  The list is a preliminary list – a first draft if you will – for the Eurocopa as players from FC Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Chelsea are not yet available.

Below is the list of 21 players called up for the friendlies on May 26 (Serbia) and May 30 (South Korea):

America Goes Home

After playing against Monterrey, and tying 0-0, America failed to move on to the finals of La Liguilla.  With the weather being against them, both teams played desperately to stay in the tournament.  Unfortunately for Las Aguilas, the lady luck was not on their side.  Monterrey won the game with a 2-0 victory, kicking America out of the tournament.

 

With the city in which the game was played having heavy rainfall, the trajectory of the ball changed in many occasions and slowed the ball as well.  Although the water had a lot to do with the control of the ball, it did nothing against the goals the "Rayados" scored agianst Las Aguilas.  Jose Maria Basanta scored in the eighth minute of play and Aldo DeNigris added the second goal of the evening in the 52nd to give Monterrey a 2-0 score.

More Late Game Heroics Win Fire their Third Consecutive Win

Chicago Fire 2 - 1 Sporting Kansas City

Grazzini (pen., 61')     Convey (31')

Oduro (81')

Chicago Fire hosted conference leaders Sporting Kansas this past weekend and did not disappoint home fans—the underdog Fire handed Sporting Kansas City their third straight loss.

The first half fell mostly in Sporting’s favor.  In the 20^th minute, a miss-headed ball from Arne Friedrich fell to Kei Kamara’s feet and his effort forced a save out of a sprawling Sean Johnson.  Nine minutes later, Friedrich suffered a hamstring injury which brought in Dan Gargan.  The early change in the defense proved to trouble the Fire as Sporting’s Bobby Convey slotted home a ball to the far post.  Convey sped into the box mostly unmarked and his teammate, Espinoza, unselfishly fed him.

Espinoza almost found the back of the net himself in the 42^nd minute with a 20-yard volley, but Sean Johnson made a miraculous save and pushed the volleyed ball into the crossbar and out of play. 

Real Madrid Celebrate 32nd La Liga Title

No words can express the emotions that pumped through my veins as los Blancos ended their season with a 4-1 victory over Mallorca.  No words can express the emotions that brought tears to my eyes as the Santiago Bernabéu celebrated a 32^nd La Liga title.  While I'm sure I would have felt the same sense of pride for my club, there was something about being there in person, as opposed to watching on my computer in Hawaii, that made it all the more special.

It was with high hopes as I watched the future of Real Madrid – the youth academy players – walk out on the pitch.  Could one of these young boys be the next Iker Casillas?  Raúl?  Guti?  While I could not see their eyes for myself, I knew that somewhere out there on the pitch was a young boy with a dream and twinkle in his eyes.

Plácido Domingo – world-renowned, multifaceted artist and one of the most influential singers in opera – took the stage in a white ensemble and congratulated the campeones before singing the Centenary anthem, academy players waving white flags around him.  Chills ran down my spine.