Real Madrid slump to 3-0 defeat in Tokyo
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-25 22:09

Real Madrid suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat by Tokyo Verdy on Monday in the first of two pre-season games in Japan.

Real Madrid's forward Ronaldo of Brazil (R) fights for the ball with Tokyo Verdy's defender Kenta Togawa during the first half of their international friendly match at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo July 25, 2005. [Reuters]

Real Madrid's David Beckham rolls over after being tackled by Tokyo Verdy's Kenichi Takahiro Soma during their friendly match at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo July 25, 2005. Real Madrid suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat by Tokyo Verdy on Monday in the first of two pre-season games in Japan. [Reuters]

Real Madrid skipper Raul Gongzales leaves pitch after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat to Tokyo Verdy during their friendly match at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo July 25, 2005. [Reuters]

The Spanish club were stunned by a team who had conceded 26 goals in their last six games and recently fired Argentine coach Osvaldo Ardiles.

Daigo Kobayashi gave Verdy a shock lead after seven minutes and Real's problems mounted when Brazilian striker Washington slid home the second goal in the 27th minute.

England striker Michael Owen went close in the 35th minute but Real were caught out again eight minutes after the break by Takuya Yamada's near-post header.

David Beckham started after missing Saturday's 3-2 win over China's Beijing Guo'an with a hamstring injury.

The England captain was involved in a simmering feud with former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Kazuyuki Toda that threatened to spill over as the teams left the pitch at halftime.

"Some of their players were very dirty especially the number six Toda," Real coach Vanderlei Luxembourgo told reporters. "He kicked Beckham when the referee wasn't looking."

Luxembourgo acknowledged that Real's punishing pre-season tour was beginning to take its toll.

"The fatigue showed today," he said. "Real Madrid want to win things but we also have to think of business."

Beckham's last contribution before being taken off in the 58th minute was an audacious free kick from the halfway line that almost caught out Verdy goalkeeper Yoshinari Takagi.

Real had already cancelled Tuesday's training session with the players complaining of fatigue and they lacked urgency and creative spark.

They began the pre-season tour with victories over Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States.

Real's six-match trip is set to earn the club around $25 million but there were swathes of empty seats among the crowd of 30,000 in Tokyo.

Real play Jubilo Iwata on Wednesday before finishing the tour with a friendly in Bangkok.

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