Cristiano Ronaldo is already in mid-season as the second half hat-trick led Real Madrid to a 3-0 victory over Chivas of Guadalajara in San Diego last night.
Ronaldo, who was frustrated for the first 45 minutes, scored three goals within a nine-minute span in the second half before 38,211 fans at Qualcomm Stadium.
Ronaldo had been stymied by goalkeeper Luis Michel in the first half. Michel stopped Ronaldo on two free kicks and a clear opportunity which he hit into the right side of the net in the 39th minute.
However, in the 73rd minute Ronaldo split two defenders, took a pass from Karim Benzema that he brought down with his left foot and kicked it with his right past Michel for the game’s first goal.
Three minutes later Ronaldo converted a penalty kick when teammate Pepe was taken down by Chivas’ Omar Areliano.
Ronaldo finished off his hat trick with a blast to the lower right hand corner of the net in the 82nd minute.
Real Madrid outshot Chivas, 23-8 with a 12-0 edge on shots on goal.
Real Madrid end their US tour on Saturday when they play the Philadelphia Union at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
