Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
The score at halftime was 1:1, and as the second half commenced, Atletico Madrid's tenacious defense kept Real Madrid from scoring.
However, it was evident to the observant that Real Madrid had already taken control of the game's rhythm.
Flores paced anxiously on the sidelines, frequently shouting the players' names, hoping to inspire them, but with little effect.
What further plunged Flores into despair was the injury of Reyes, who had been performing excellently, early in the second half.
During an Atletico Madrid counterattack, Reyes raced towards the ball, when Chen Zhong charged in from the side, knocking Reyes out of bounds, crashing into the advertising boards, seemingly injuring his thigh.
Thus, in the 47th minute, Atletico Madrid used their first substitution, and the looks from Fernando and Aguero towards Chen Zhong were filled with shock.
The 2010 World Cup was imminent, and they had no wish to get injured at such a critical moment.
