Real pulls off late win after squandering two-goal lead

MADRID — Carlos Espi scored in stoppage time after a nifty move by Jude Bellingham and an assist by Kylian Mbappe to help Real Madrid salvage a 3-2 win at Elche in the Spanish league after it relinquished a two-goal lead on Tuesday.

Bellingham used a neat long touch to get past an opponent near midfield and fed Mbappe in a breakaway into the area, and the France star quickly set up Espi's close-range score to give Madrid the victory and put Los Blancos even on points with Barcelona. The defending champion was set to host promoted Racing Santander on Wednesday.

"We went from having it easy, to losing control," Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.

"But in the difficulty of the moment, facing the pressure of losing points, the team reacted and won the match, which in the end is the most important thing.

"The good thing is that nobody gets bored when Real Madrid plays. The games are always fun."

Madrid had taken the lead against Elche thanks to an own goal by goalkeeper Matias Dituro in the 25th minute, after the ball ricocheted off him following a well-struck freekick taken by Arda Guler.

Mbappe added to the lead by scoring from close range following an assist from Yan Diomande in the 33rd. He also had a goal disallowed for offside just before halftime.

There was a bit of a scare immediately after Mbappe scored, as he stayed on the ground in visible pain, but he eventually returned to the field after being attended to by Madrid's doctors.

The goal moved him to seven goals in six league matches, one goal more than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Sergio Camello and Roberto Fernandez.

Mbappe scored a brace in Madrid's 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in the previous round.

Bellingham came into the match by replacing Guler in the 68th minute.

Shortly afterward, Abiel Osorio closed the gap for the host with a header in the 71st, and Fer Nino netted the equalizer in the 83rd.

Espi the hero again

Espi, who already saved his team at Espanyol in its opening game with a late strike, tucked home at the back post in the 91st.

Espi, who signed for Los Blancos this summer from Levante, has not started a game for the club, but both of his goals from the bench have been vital for Mourinho's side.

"(Espi) comes on with great motivation, (but) he has in front of him (Mbappe), a player who is not a normal player," said Mourinho.

"Playing with the two of them is not easy... with the changes I made late on I risked everything, because a draw was not enough."

Mourinho was unhappy with his team not extending its 2-0 lead and allowing Elche, now bottom of La Liga, to fight back.

"There are games which seem to be over that we are not killing off, and after not killing them off, they go from easy to being out of control," added the veteran coach.

Despite the roller-coaster nature of its matches so far this season, Los Blancos' only league defeat came at Real Betis on Sept 4.

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