The Galaxy went ahead five minutes before halftime when defender
Todd Dunivant scored and doubled the advantage a minute into the second period
after US international Landon Donovan slotted home a penalty kick.
The visitors had made eight substitutions at the break, introducing
several of the squad's big names, and once they had settled after conceding the
second, Jose Mourinho's men set about avoiding an embarrassing result in front
of 89,134 spectators.
Argentine international striker Gonzalo Higuain pulled one back
for Real in the 51st minute, latching on to a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo, and
the same player equalized ten minutes later with a deft chip.
Real scored the winning goal in the 71st minute when Galaxy substitute
goalkeeper Brian Perk could only parry a shot into the path of midfielder Pedro
Leon, whose looping shot from the edge of the area took a deflection before
finding the net.
Madrid rallied to beat Mexico's Club America by the same score
in the opener of their two-match US tour in San Francisco on Wednesday and the
team's resilience was something that impressed coach Mourinho.
"For this trip, everything was perfect," Mourinho
told reporters. "We trained well. We trained hard. The players were together
for 24 hours in a perfect environment for them to grow up as a group." That bonding appeared to have a positive effect on the side's
ability to remain competitive, even in friendlies.
"Obviously, I like this mentality of not wanting to
lose, of wanting to overcome, a lot," Mourinho added. "For me the
second half was fantastic in every aspect."
