Soccer-Espi winner rescues Real Madrid after Elche comeback


Soccer Football - LaLiga - Elche v Real Madrid - Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche, Spain - September 15, 2026 Real Madrid's Carlos Espi celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Pablo Morano

ELCHE, Spain, Sept ⁠15 (Reuters) - Real Madrid squandered a two-goal lead againstElche ⁠on Tuesday, but striker Carlos Espi came ‌off the bench to score the winner in a 3-2 away LaLiga victory for Jose Mourinho's side.

Real opened the scoring in ​the 25th minute when an Arda ⁠Guler free kick hit ⁠the woodwork and rebounded off Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro ⁠into ‌the net.

Eight minutes later, new Real Madrid signing YanDiomande provided his first assist for ⁠the club, with an unmarked Kylian Mbappe ​converting his ‌cross.

The second half drifted untilElche forward Abiel Osorio ⁠headed in ​his first goal for the club from a Lucas Cepeda cross in the 71st minute.

In the 83rd minute, ⁠Marc Cucurella gave the ball away ​and Elche worked it into the box before Fer Nino levelled the score with a fine finish into ⁠the corner.

Mourinho's side snatched the three points in the 91st minute, though, when Espi scored the winner from an Mbappe assist.

Real Madrid moved level at ​the top of the table with ⁠Barcelona on 15 points, although the Catalan sidehave a ​game in hand. Elche remain ‌winless and are rooted to ​the bottom of the LaLiga table with two points.

(Reporting by Ruairidh BarlowEditing by Toby Davis)

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