Celebrating his first triumph as Real Madrid coach on Sunday, Xabi Alonso’s 10-man team fought to a 31 victory over Mexico’s Pachuca in a FIFA Club World Cup Group H match held in sweltering conditions in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Madrid held firm and struck twice late in the first half through Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler despite being reduced to 10 players only seven minutes in after defender Raul Asencio was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Madrid assumes control even with early Red Card.
The premature dismissal of Asencio, who pulled down Salomón Rondón just outside the zone, could have ruined Madrid’s plans. Instead, though, they gathered and hit first in the 35th minute. Fran GarcÃa chose Belling after making a clever overlapping run.
