This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On a rainy night in Orlando, Atletico Madrid showcased their strength, defeating the MLS All-Stars 3-0 at Exploria Stadium on Wednesday.
The Spanish side, led by manager Diego Simeone, made a statement with their performance, outshining the North American league's annual exhibition match.
Joao Felix, the 19-year-old Portuguese sensation, made a significant impact off the bench, scoring a brilliant goal in the 84th minute to seal the win for Atletico.
Earlier, Marcos Llorente had put the Spanish side ahead in the first half, and Diego Costa added a late third goal to cap off the victory.
Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United and England forward, was operating in a deep-lying midfield role for the MLS All-Stars but was unable to penetrate Atletico's defense.
"I haven't seen too much of Joao Felix but... he looks like he has good technique," Rooney told AFP. "I'm sure he will be a good player for Atletico in the near future."
Rooney also commented on the high transfer fee paid for Felix, saying, "Of course it's a big price to pay for such a young player but that's the way the market is going now."
Despite the changes made by both teams, the match failed to spark into action, with the rain-soaked conditions contributing to a low-tempo affair.
Atletico's victory marked a comprehensive win, with the Spanish side spending plenty of money on new signings, including Felix, who was signed from Benfica this summer for $134 million.
