Real Madrid, with David Beckham making his debut, overcame the China Dragon select team 4-0 on Saturday before an ecstatic crowd.

Luis Figo, Fernando Morientes (twice) and Javier Portillo scored the goals for the Spanish champions in a fevered atmosphere.

More than 60,000 fans waved five-starred Chinese flags and roared on their compatriots every time they broke down Real's attacks and countered.

But the soccer-smitten crowd, many clad in white Real jerseys, reserved gasps of anticipation and shrieks of excitement for the moments when playmakers Beckham and Frenchman Zinedine Zidane had the ball.

Beckham, marked tightly by Chinese international defender Li Weifeng, produced a series of quick passes to prompt early attacks but the Chinese defense quickly smothered the danger on each occasion.

The England captain's brightest moment came in the 20th minute when he curled a trademark free kick towards the top corner only for goalkeeper Sun to punch the ball away at the last moment.

Beckham, who was signed from Manchester United for 35 million euro on July 1, arrowed another free kick just wide of the post in the 35th minute.

He was eventually substituted to loud cheers from the adoring fans after 75 minutes, clapping hands above his head in appreciation.

(China Daily August 3, 2003)