Atletico

Madrid trounced Shanghai Shenhua SVA 3-0 to win the Shanghai International Football Tournament last Sunday night.

 

The local team, having lost its first match 0-1 to Manchester City last Friday, showed some fighting spirit and managed to cope with the Spanish team's attacks initially.

 

However, the balance was tipped in the visitors' favor as Mateja Kezman stole the limelight at Hongkou Stadium.

 

The Serbian striker scored the opener by beating Sun Xiang to the ball and sliding in Fernando Torres' left cross into the net in the 30th minute.

 

Kezman headed in his second 15 minutes into the second half.

 

Argentine rookie sensation Sergio Aguero scored his second goal of the four-team tournament, making it 3-0 in the 74th.

 

With the game in its bag, Atletico played in its own half to run down the clock and claim the tournament.

 

According to the tournament rules, one win counts for three points, one for a draw and zero for a loss while one point is given for each goal scored.

 

The Spanish side topped the table with 12 points, followed by Kashima Antlers (8), City (7) and Shenhua (0).

 

Earlier, J-League side Kashima outclassed City 4-3 to finish second and restore some pride after its 1-3 loss to Atletico last Friday.

 

Kashima dominated most of the first half, threatening City's defense with its quick short passes and interchanges. Defender Daiki Iwamasa opened the scoring with a neat shot inside the box on 12 minutes before midfielder Masaki Chungo made a fine follow-up after Takuya Nozawa's long-range drive was parried by City keeper Joe Hart.

 

The English Premier League side piled on the pressure in the latter part of the first period and pulled one back in the 30th with hitman Antoine Sibierski's far-post header following left back Stephen Jordan's inch-perfect cross.

 

Antlers had the third goal 14 minutes into the second half, when Marinaldo Da Cicero sidestepped home from close range. Nozawa added another on a one-to-one situation.

 

City's Joey Barton and Georgios Samaras contributed two goals, and created a dozen of chances in the last few minutes of the game, but failed to find the target.

 

(Shanghai Daily August 7, 2006)