For a little while, it looked like the Los Angeles Galaxy were going to pull off a miraculous victory over Real Madrid in front of nearly 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.
Then, the "Galacticos" flipped a switch.
With Landon Donovan's 45th minute penalty kick, the Galaxy took a 2-0 lead into half time. The lead wasn't enough.
In the second 45, Argentina's star striker Gonzalo Higuain netted two goals in 10 minutes to equalize the score, and Real never looked back thereafter.
Cristiano Ronaldo and company had opportunity after opportunity to take the lead, and Spain's best long-range sniper, Xabi Alonso, netted the game winner in the 72nd minute.
In what was former U.S. international star Clint Mathis' last professional game, the Galaxy acquitted themselves well, performing far better than the MLS All-Stars did in their 5-2 loss to Manchester United.
MLS teams have had multiple successes against top European clubs during the summer season, as Kansas City Wizards defeated Manchester United, and the New York Red Bulls upended both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Crowds for the matches have also been eye opening, among the largest ever for such events. Clearly, both the MLS — and soccer's significance in America — are making major strides forward.
