Staff Reporter.
Real Madrid bounced back from an early Raúl Asencio red card to beat Pachuca 3-1 in Charlotte and give Xabi Alonso his first win as head coach.
Spanish giants were reduced to 10 men when Asencio fouled Salomon Rondon when the veteran former West Brom striker was through on goal.
Pachuca caused Real problems and had several chances and a penalty appeal rejected by the video assistant referee.
Real took the lead when Jude Bellingham ran on to a pass, carried the ball into the box and slotted a well-hit effort past the goalkeeper.
Arda Guler doubled the lead after Gonzalo Garcia laid off the ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass. Federico Valverde stabbed home their third before Elias Montiel’s deflected effort gave Pachuca faint hope.
Real will be in the last 16 if they beat Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg on Friday (02:00 BST). Pachuca are eliminated.