Derry City 0 Barcelona 5
Catalan giants Barcelona flew into Derry today and gave the 10,000 capacity crowd at the Brandywell much to cheer about as they put five goals, without reply, past eircom League side Derry City.
The friendly was part of Barcelona's three match tour of the UK and tonight the Spanish giants left the Foyleside club looking on in awe. One positive to come out of the 5-0 defeat is, at least it should serve as a good warm-up for Derry's upcoming UEFA Cup game against APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus on Thursday.
With Barcelona practically fielding a full-strength side, Luis Enrique the exception, the visitors wasted little time by opening the scoring after just three minutes.
A corner from David Sanchez saw Rafael Marquez rise unchallenged to head home from close range.
Derry, through Peter Hutton, had two realistic first half chances but were unable to take their chances. Inevitably it was only going to be a matter of time before Barca pressed forward once again.
In the 36th minute, Barcelona doubled their lead from another set-piece. An inswinging corner from Sanchez saw another Barca centre-half, Patrick Andersson stoop low to head the ball home from six yards.
Derry started brightly in the second period with Hutton again spear-heading the home attack. Having broken on the left, Hutton played the ball behind the advancing Ciaran Martyn but it fell perfectly for Gary Beckett who failed to get his shot on target in the 52nd minute.
The entrance of Brazilian, Ronaldinho, was greeted with rapturous applause and his swerving free-kick beat Bennett but Holt was well placed on the line to head clear.
Barca added a third when Marc Overmans sent a low cross into the box and with the Derry defence failing to clear, substitute, Gerard Lopez tucked the ball home from close range on the hour.
In the 62nd minute, the visitors made it 4-0 when Ronaldinho played the perfect ball through to Saviola and with Bennett advancing, the Argintinean international deftly chipped the ball over the keeper's head from 16 yards.
Ronaldinho finally made his mark in the 76th minute to end the rout when he burst through to round substitute keeper, Mark Speers — a goal which fashioned prolonged applause.
Derry City— Bennett, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, McChrystal, Beckett, Coyle, Martyn, Holt. Subs. Moran, McGlynn, Hedderman, Friars, Molineaux, Fimms, Deery, Gill, Aldridge (all used).
Barcelona— Valdez, Riezger, Andersson, Marquez, Lopez, Ros, Quaresma, Inesta, Saviola, Sanchez, Overmars. Subs., Puyol, Recber, Cocu, Ronaldinho, Lopez, Kluivert (all used), Hernandez (not used).
Referee— Mr. Alan Kelly (Cork).