TORONTO - They are called the galacticos of soccer and judging by the dazzling style of play on display Friday night, the high-priced talent assembled by Real Madrid during the off-season will live up to the billing.
Two pretty goals by Raul plus a brilliant strike by Cristiano Ronaldo inside the opening 26 minutes sent the European giants to a 5-1 victory over Toronto FC, in a friendly that showed off a level of soccer Canadian fans rarely see in person.
Karim Benzema, in the 65th minute, and Arjen Robben in the 86th, also scored as a record crowd of 22,089 at BMO Field -- including NBA stars Steve Nash and Chris Bosh, former Chief of the Defence Staff General Rick Hillier, Spain's ambassador to Canada and Glass Tiger's Alan Frew -- were awed by the storied Spanish side's penetrating runs, deft touches and precision passing.
Substitute Gabe Gala replied in the 75th minute for the Major League Soccer hosts, who couldn't help but be wowed by what they saw.
"The way they move the ball outside the box is unbelievable," said goalkeeper Brian Edwards, who played the second half. "They can make five passes before you even know it. They can switch the field, both feet all the time.
"It's amazing to watch just the way they move."
No doubt, which is why at times it was like Real Madrid, which spent nearly $400 million to add eight players including Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema over the summer, was playing in overdrive while Toronto FC was in first gear.
Ronaldo tore down the wings on the $250,000 temporary natural grass installed solely for the contest, speeding past defenders and leaving them dizzy with his footwork. Raul and Kaka gave Toronto's defenders in the middle fits, while defender Raul Albiol was a rock on the rare occasions FC threatened.
No surprise there. The disparity in talent and payroll between the teams made the matchup the equivalent of pitting the New York Yankees against an A-ball club.
"Clearly," MLS commissioner Don Garber said during halftime. "There's probably five times the salary budget of our entire league out there. ...
"It's chance for our fans to see what the sport can be at that level."
In that regard the contest, in which tickets ran from $140-$215 and Toronto Tourism said generated $10 million in local economic activity, delivered a game far more beautiful than what is typically on display at the lakeside stadium.
"It's something we have to be proud of, to come here to Toronto and to receive that support from the fans," said Xabi Alonso, who made his Madrid debut. "To bring here the different football and now that is developing in Canada and especially in Toronto, it's great."
Added Robben: "We just wanted to play a good game. Sometimes it's nice to be in a different part of the world, outside of Europe, to demonstrate here as well that we are a good team."
Raul opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he picked up a deflected clearing attempt by the penalty spot and after having his first shot blocked, rifled the ball off the crossbar and in.
Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei was even more helpless six minutes later when Ronaldo picked up a deep ball on the wing, headed it to Benzema and then picked up a return backpass from the Frenchman and rifled a low shot home from the top of the box.
Seven minutes after that Real Madrid scored another jaw-dropper when Raul Albiol sent a pass across the box to Cristoph Metzelder by the post, and he sent a header across the goal to Raul, who headed it in.
"I expected exactly what we got," Toronto coach Chris Cummins. "We didn't want to go out there and get embarrassed, and I said to the lads, `You've got to go out there, you've got to work hard, but go and enjoy the game. Don't be in awe of them, or afraid of them.'
"Obviously they got the goal, then they got the second, then they got the third and I'm thinking, `Here we go."'
The visitors seemed to take their foot off the pedal a bit after going up 3-0, and Toronto FC had a couple of nice moments late in the first half. The best came on an Amado Guevera free kick that landed atop the net in the 44th minute.
Toronto FC showed more initiative in the second half against a Madrid lineup sprinkled with backups -- Kaka came out after 45 minutes, while Ronaldo, Raul and Guti headed for the bench in the 63rd minute to loud applause -- and rewarded their fans when Gala found the mark.
O'Brian White cutting in from the wing, fired a shot that backup 'keeper Jerzey Dudek stopped, sending the rebound right to Gala, who sent the crowd into a frenzy by easily depositing it in.
Toronto's best chance prior to that came in the sixth minute, when forward Pablo Vitti was sent in alone but was stopped by 'keeper Iker Casillas, with Albiol blocking an attempt at the empty net on the rebound.
Robben made it 5-1 when he fought off a defender and deked around goalkeeper Brian Edwards before slipping a shot home.
Madrid continues its North American tour Sunday with a game at DC United. They start their regular season at month's end and have until then to build more cohesion.
"Of course it's a massive project, signing such big players with a great base that already were here," said Alonso. "It's a must to step forward and hopefully we will achieve the targets we are going to set for the season."
Notes: Toronto FC will donate the temporary grass surface installed for the game to three local schools. The team will later visit one of the schools to unveil the new field. ... Madrid players were given a rock-star like reception when they came off the team bus about an hour before the game, with fans lined 10 deep screaming as they walked into the stadium. ... Kaka and Alonso, who came in as a sub in the second half, made their Madrid debuts.
