AS Roma downs Real Madrid in penalty shoot-out at International Champions Cup

AS Roma has edged out Spanish giants Real Madrid in penalties (7-6), after the two teams played out a 0-0 draw in their International Champions Cup (ICC) clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday night.

Both teams had genuine chances to steal the match throughout the 90 minutes, but it came down to penalties after a lackluster second half display left the crowd of 80,746 underwhelmed.

Neither goalkeeper was able to force a save after the first 12 shots of the shootout, but it was Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez who had his poor strike brilliantly saved by Roma's Morgan De Sanctis, ultimately allowing Roma's Seydou Keita to calmly convert his team's seventh penalty, securing the two points to shoot to the top of the ICC table.

The match started in a lively manner and was highlighted by sporadic but punchy forays into the forward halves, however neither team was able to capitalize on the periods of domination they both displayed.

Roma's Gervinho and Iago Falque were penetrating along the wings; Falque provided clinical delivery to his teammates streaking forward, while man-of-the-match Gervinho's energy and pace worried the Real Madrid defence for most of the first half.

Roma's best opportunity came in just the fourth minute; a corner went deep causing confusion in the Real Madrid defense, the ball ultimately falling to the feet of Daniele De Rossi who pummeled his lunging right-foot shot into the crossbar.

Madrid had the chance to push ahead in the 26th minute, when a long ball from striker Gareth Bale found Cristiano Ronaldo in stride, however the Portuguese superstar was unable to convert. [ Roma then piled the pressure on Real Madrid goalkeeper Keilor Navas. In the 29th minute, Roma's captain Francesco Totti forced a punched a risky cross when he could have taken the ball, while, two minutes later, a deep corner fell to the feet of Salih Ucan, who out-manoeuvred his defender nicely on the edge of the six yard box but was unable to convert.

Totti was subbed off at the half-hour mark, after which the Spanish giants tried to take the ascendancy; Dani Carvajal missed a long shot that forced movement from De Sanctis. That was followed by an unwieldy bicycle kick attempt from Bale in the middle of the box.

There was mass movement from the bench during the half-time break. Big names Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Jese and Luka Modric were all substituted for Real Madrid, giving Karim Benzema, Portuguese international Pepe, Isco and Denis Cheryshev an opportunity, while Roma gave Alessandro Florenzi, Mattia Destro and Juan Iturbe valuable time on the pitch.

Toni Kroos was also lively for Madrid in the second half, as was Benzema, but they couldn't capitalize, while Roma's Florenzi provided dash down the wings.

The match dropped in tempo during the middle period of the half, neither team was as penetrating as they were early, perhaps a sign of fatigue as both teams had only arrived in Melbourne days earlier.

But a late flurry of chances in the dying stages almost resulted in both teams snatching the victory.

Benzema played a lovely through-ball to Vazquez, who turned his opponent before forcing a miraculous, reflex save from De Sanctis.

Danilo Da Silva, Kroos, Lucas Silva, Isco, Benzema and Nacho scored easy penalties for the Spanish team, while Miralem Pjanic, Adem Ljajic, Destro, Florenzi, Iturbe and Leandro Paredes converted for Roma.

Vazquez then had a stuttered approach, kicking his attempt too straight, allowing De Sanctis to make, ultimately, the match-winning save.

Keita drilled his penalty passed Navas to secure the result for AS Roma.

AS Roma's manager Rudi Garcia was satisfied by the result, praising his team's determination to use the match as a genuine hit-out before the Serie A competition resumes later this year.

"Before the game I didn't need to motivate the players. When we play such big teams, the players are motivated," he said at his post-match press conference.

He labeled goalkeeper De Sanctis and man-of-the-match Gervinho as key players in his side's win, but lamented a lack of match fitness as a reason for the slow second half.

"Gervinho was the most dangerous striker on the pitch in the first half. He is still a very important player for us," he said.

"De Sanctis put in a couple of good saves, especially in the second half and the penalty shoot-out."

"We were dangerous on offensive set pieces. But we lack some speed and intensity at times."

Meanwhile Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez was upbeat about his side's performance, despite the result going the other way. He said keeping a good side like Roma scoreless until full-time was a good effort for his team, which had less preparation than its Italian opponent.

"I feel it was a good game. It was a draw, but there were many chances at the beginning of the game," he said at the post-match press conference.

"We knew they had more training sessions than us.

"They know how they play for three years with the same coach. I think they will be a solid team, they could win the Serie A."

The result after penalties secures two points for the Italian side, while three points are on offer for a team to win during the 90 minutes.

AS Roma have short turnaround before their second ICC match against Manchester City on Tuesday, while Madrid will wait until Friday to play their second match, also against Manchester City. Endi