Former Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty (left) helped set up the equalizing goal. (Keith Furman/FrontRowSoccer.com Photo)
CHICAGO — Major League Soccer lost to Real Madrid in its annual all-star game Wednesday.
The hosts squad lost in penalty kicks, 2-1, after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation before a capacity crowd of 61,428 at Soldier Field.
Marcelo tallied the game-winning shootout goal while goalkeeper Luca Zidane made two saves in the tie-breaker.
Former Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty, who plays for the Chicago Fire, helped rally MLS in the 87th minute. His header off a corner kick hit the near post and rebounded out to Orlando City SC’s Dom Dwyer, who headed in the equalizer.
Borja Mayoral scored for the visitors in the 59th minute.
Real’s top player, FIFA world player of the year Ronaldo, did not participate in the match. He was across the pond, fighting tax evasion charges in Spain.
“Obviously, our goalkeepers came up big at some points,” McCarty said. “Their goalkeepers made some good saves. It was an entertaining game back and forth, but it’s an exhibition game. It’s a friendly, so I don’t think it’s really fair judge how good or bad MLS is based on this game.”
McCarty said he enjoyed playing at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears of the NFL.
“It’s truly a beautiful stadium,” McCarty said after playing his first game in the home of the Bears. “I think the atmosphere was amazing all night. It was full right from the first minute even when it was raining, the fans stayed, the fireworks, everything. It was a great spectacle for everyone. You want to entertain people, you want them to leave having fun so I think the fans of Chicago have had certainly a very positive year with the Fire doing as well as we have and obviously the All-Star Game here against Real Madrid. Obviously a win would have been nice but I think they got a great game.”
