Battle-tested: RSL keeps game close but misses opportunities

When you're playing one of the best teams in the world, you better not waste your chances — and you better not take a red card.

Real Salt Lake succeeded at neither.

No doubt a heavy underdog with European power Real Madrid in town, RSL missed out on several quality first-half scoring opportunities, and when substitute Atiba Harris was red-carded early in the second half, that was all she wrote.

A first-half penalty kick by Ruud van Nistelrooy and a dominating second-half performance by Robinho was more than enough to help Real Madrid earn the result everyone expected, a 2-0 victory in front of 45,511 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"It's just a great atmosphere," Real keeper Scott Garlick said. "This is what it should be like every week. With a new stadium, it's going to replicate this on a smaller scale."

It's tough to replicate David Beckham, however, and many fans were probably puzzled why the English superstar wasn't in the starting lineup. Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello is pacing his players through their six-week training camp, and Beckham eventually entered the game in the second half, much to the delight of thousands of screaming fans.

While those fans were no doubt thrilled to get their Beckham fix, they had to be impressed with their local team.

Despite Real Madrid's lofty reputation, Real Salt Lake went after the win. It could've easily sat back and let Madrid dictate the pace, but it did just the opposite.

"The thing I've learned in international soccer, they let you play," RSL midfielder Andy Williams said. "They don't press the issue. We just had to be smart and choose the time to press forward, and I thought we did a good job in the first half."

In many ways, RSL did a great job. After playing a little shell-shocked the opening 15 minutes, it settled down and actually possessed the ball for decent stretches of the first half, creating several opportunities as a result.

RSL's best opportunity of the half came in the 29th minute as Chris Klein's shot outside the box forced Madrid keeper Iker Casillas to make a diving save. The rebound trickled directly to Jason Kreis, who quickly turned and fired a shot only to have it cleared off the line by defender Sergio Ramos.

At the other end, Real Madrid enjoyed long stretches of possession as well, and on several occasions Garlick came up with big saves to keep the score level at 0-0.

Shortly before halftime, the referee made a decision that changed the complexion of the game.