LANDOVER, Md. — For the longest time, more than $300 million worth of new Real Madrid talent couldn’t get the ball past a modestly paid goalkeeper named Josh Wicks, who dived left, right and took command in front of his net to keep D.C. United in the game against soccer’s latest edition of the best team money can buy.
The inevitable breakdown occurred in the second half, when Gonzalo Higuain shredded United’s defense for two goals in a two-minute span, leading the Spanish powerhouse to a 3-0 victory over the MLS club in Sunday’s exhibition before 72,368 at FedEx Field.
Arjen Robben added another goal for Real, which went 2-0 in its preseason swing through North America. Real defeated Toronto FC 5-1 on Friday.
“You never know when you’re going play them again, so make sure you have your best game,” said Wicks, whose $42,000 MLS salary would be pocket change for Real.
United’s usual home, RFK Stadium, couldn’t hold all the U.S.-based Real fans who wanted to come, but the spectators in white spent the first half and part of the second applauding in appreciation for Wicks. He finished with six saves, including a diving, right-arm reflex stop against Robben in the 52nd minute.
“The crowd actually gave me more confidence,” Wicks said. “You sure don’t want to mess up in front of 70,000. One or two hundred is OK to mess up on, but 70,000 — you don’t want to do that.”
But Wicks was helpless after Higuain sliced through United’s defense on a 40-yard run to score easily in the 57th minute, and Higuain was wide open for a second goal in the 59th after taking a pass from Robben.
“We tried our best,” United midfielder Ben Olsen said. “Sometimes you’re just a little outmatched.”
