BERKELEY – Inter got their Guinness International Champions Cup 2014 campaign off the ground with a penalty shootout victory over Real Madrid. The reigning European champions - and winners of last year's inaugural edition of the ICC - were on top in the first half and took the lead through their galactic Welshman Gareth Bale, but Mazzarri's men came into the game much more following the break and deservedly levelled from Mauro Icardi's penalty. Then it came down to the lottery from 12 yards, which Inter won thanks to Juan Pablo Carrizo's heroics.
The stage for this opening encounter was California Memorial Stadium, home to the California Golden Bears. A university campus arena and yet one that is far more impressive than those used by many professional sides in Europe. The 63,000 seater was sold out (62,583 the official attendance) for this meeting of two European giants, who haven't squared up in a competitive match since 1998/99. They last faced off in a friendly in Saint Louis last August, from which Real emerged victorious.
The start of this ICC opener suggested a similar result was on the cards: it took Gareth Bale all of three minutes to remind onlookers of his threat as his header clipped the bar.
Nemanja Vidic didn't take much longer to produce a top-class intervention of his own. There were lots of eyes on the defender today, as there were on the beautiful new Nerazzurri shirt, making its first appearance in a match.
Bale did break the deadlock ten minutes in, however, with a long-range blast that flew into the corner past Handanovic. 1-0 and the omens weren't looking good.
Inter managed to muster some sort of response when Juan Jesus brought the ball out of defence superbly before finding Dodò, whose cross was headed over by Jonathan. It must be said though that the first period was mostly Real. Mazzarri's men picked up towards the end of the half when they created a couple of chances through Botta and Obi, but their efforts weren't enough to trouble Diego Lopez.
Inter came out from the break unchanged while Bale remained in the dressing room, with youngster De Tomas coming on in his place.
Around the hour mark Mazzarri brought on M'Vila for Kuzmanovic, Carrizo for Handanovic and Andreolli for Ranocchia, with Juan Jesus taking the captain's armband.
It wasn't long before M'Vila had a chance to equalise but Jesus Fernandez, on for Lopez between the sticks, pulled off a super stop. From the resulting corner Vidic was fouled and Inter had a penalty. Minute 68. Mauro Icardi stepped up and nonchalantly chipped it straight down the middle to level the scores.
The Nerazzurri had the bit between their teeth now and very nearly took the lead immediately, only for Real subsititute keeper to deny both Vidic and Andreolli in quick succession.
Those were the last real chances of the game as neither side was able to find the breakthrough. In the meantime Laxalt, Krhin, Nagatomo and Bonazzoli all made their entrances as the game went to penalties.
Carrizo – the hero in last year's ICC shootout against Juventus – saved the first spot kick from Isco. Vidic and De Tomas scored while Nagatomo missed. 1-1. Vazquez put his away and M'Vila despaired as his effort cannoned off the foot of the post. Carrizo came to the rescue again when he thwarted Illaramendi before Juan Jesus converted (2-2) and Mascarell sent his wide to mean it all came down to Inter's final penalty. Icardi was the main who shouldered the responsibility and he made no mistake.
So that's two points for Inter, one for Real. The Nerazzurri's next obstacle is Louis van Gaal's Manchester United, who beat Roma 3-2 in the day's other match in Pool 1. The game will be played in Washington DC on Tuesday, kick-off at 19:00 local time.
Real Madrid 1-1 Inter (HT 1-0, Inter win 2-3 on penalties)
Scorers: Bale 10, Icardi 68.
Penalties: Isco (R) saved, Vidic (I) scores, Vazquez (R) scores, Nagatomo (I) saved, Nacho (R) scores, M'Vila (I) post, Illarramendi (R) saved, Juan Jesus (I) scores, Mascarell (R) misses, Icardi (I) scores.
Real Madrid: Diego Lopez (Jesus Fernandez 45); Carvajal, Pepe (Derik 64), Nacho, D. Llorente; Vazquez, Medran (Mascarell 64), Illarramendi, Isco; De Tomas (Sobrino 53), Bale (M. Llorente 46).
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.
Inter: Handanovic (Carrizo 63); Ranocchia (Andreolli 63), Vidic, Juan Jesus; D'Ambrosio, Jonathan (Bonazzoli 90), Kuzmanovic (M'Vila 63), Obi (Krhin 78), Dodò (Nagatomo 78); Botta (Laxalt 80), Icardi.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Referee: Ricardo Salazar.
Versión Española 日本語版 Versi Bahasa Indonesia Versione Italiana
