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Everton stitched up in narrow defeat to Real

Everton 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Everton went down to a narrow defeat to Real Madrid in Los Angeles but can feel hard done-by following some maddening decisions that favoured the tournament darlings.

Cristiano Ronaldo romped through to slot home the opener after 16 minutes before Sylvain Distin's headed goal was chalked off for a "foul" and a trip on Kevin Mirallas just inside the box was called as a free kick instead of a penalty.

Mezut Ozil then tucked home a second as the Blues' high line was ruthlessly exploited before Jelavic, on after the break for the pedestrian Kone, scored a nice half-volleyed goal that bounced in off the post.

Match Summary

Roberto Martinez has picked a fairly strong side but one with a couple of surprises for this Round 2 game in the International Champions Cup from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles... perhaps with a retro attacking 4-3-3 line-up: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Osman, Heitinga, Fellaini; Naismith, Kone, Mirallas.

Everton kicked off a little late in the LA evening sunshine with a bit of reverse possession football, a clumsy Osman foul giving Real Madrid the first opportunity to put the all-Blues under pressure. The ref was protective of any contact, though.

A great steal by Naismith was not anticipated and the Blues were again on the back foot. But Coleman totally bamboozled Marcello and won a great free-kick wide right that Baines curled over, beating the keeper, but evading Kone and Fellaini. Some great controlled play and passing from Everton lead to the first decent shot, from Mirallas, just wide.

Baines was struggling a little with his passing, making a couple of atypical mistakes. A lively forward ball for Ronaldo was lashed high over the Everton goal. Some snappy Everton passing down the right almost paid off but Coleman and Jagielka needed to be alert in defence, blocking off Ronaldo at the byeline.

Everton were giving a good account of themselves, retaining the ball well and working it forward patiently, unintimidated by their illustrious opposition. Ronaldo again got free but Jags and Coleman were on him. However, he got behind the Everton defence on the left this time and, clearly two yards offside when the ball was played, he went on unhindered, drawing Howard before slotting home the opening goal. Shocking non-decision.

Everton had ceded the initiative to Los Blancos and now had to up their game significantly, especially in the final third, to get back into contention. Mirallas did brilliantly to beat Khadieria who brought him down, clearly inside the area, but the ref shamefully only gave a free-kick that was whipped in buy Baines and went out for the first corner, taken by Mirallas, leading to a second corner on the other side. Baines took this one and Fellaini headed it onto the post.

Some better play saw a sweeping move own the right but the positioning was wrong. However, a corner from the left was headed home by Distin, a perfect headed goal, but incredibly disallowed. And soon it was 2-0, Modric sending a ball over the top for Ronaldo, who centered for Ozil (offside?) to easily slot home.

Baines was perhaps missing Pienaar as his passing was out of sorts. And on the other side, Coleman was not as effective in dodging inside. Jagielka had his hands full keeping track of Ronaldo and his wicked forward runs.

Some shocking decisions in the first half and an impossible uphill climb for the Blues in a match that was clearly fixed. Jelavic came on in place of Kone, who had a poor half, while Madrid made a slew of changes after the break. Odd that Roberto resisted making more changes...

Everton were soon under pressure in the second half, their passing game failing to yield sustained forward progress. Some neat play created a half-chance for Jelavic but his flick was never going to score, and after pulling down a great cross from Baines, he got the ball mixed up in his legs. Jelavic again tripped over the ball.... poor.

A great move so nearly paid off but Fellaini was denied. While at the other end, Howard had to pull of an amazing one-handed save off a curling shot from Edilson(?). Ronaldo went off on the hour mark, replaced by Jese.

A good move finally led to an Everton goal that could not be disallowed, Coleman's deep cross headed back in to Jelavic whose technique was superb to power it past Lopez in the Real Madrid goal, and thankfully no possible way it could be disallowed, so Everton finally on the scoreboard.

Howard pulled off another brilliant save when it looked like he would be beaten with ease, Di Maria (?) firing low and Howard sticking out his foot to stop the goal. Fellaini gave way to Barkley and Gibson came on for Heitinga.

Barkley did well to force the play forward and win a handball decsion. But Jelavic's execution from the set-piece was shockingly poor. Everton were getting more calls in the second half, another excellent free-kick position wide left was so nearly powered in by Jagielka's header from a superb Baines delivery.

Deulofeu came on for his first appearance in a blue shirt, but a cross from him was rather wayward as Everton could not chisel out the chance that could tie the game and lead to penalties. The football from both sides was a lot more scrappy, with far too many subs disrupting any momentum on either side.

Three minutes of added time was not enough for Everton to find the equalizer and the 'expected' — if grossly unfair — result was registered, with the tournament favourites progressing to the final, Everton not really clicking well enough to counter the biased officials despite winning the second half.

Goals: Ronaldo (17') Ozil (25'), Jelavic (61')

Everton (4-3-3): Howard; Coleman (83' Stones), Jagielka, Distin, Baines (83' Oviedo); Osman, Heitinga (68' Gibson), Fellaini (68' Barkley); Naismith, Kone (46' Jelavic), Mirallas (83' Deulofeu).
Subs: Robles, Anichebe, Vellios.

Real Madrid: Casillas (46' Lopez), Pepe, Ramos (46' Nacho), Khedira, Ronaldo (60' Jese), Benzema (71' Kaka), Özil (85' Cherishcev), Marcelo, Arbeloa, Modric (46' Coentrao), Isco (46 Coentrao).

Referee: Baldomero Toledo.

Attendance: 40,681

 

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