MADRID: A stoppage-time goal by 20-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia earned a second-string Real Madrid side a hard-fought 3-2 win over lowly local rivals Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Luka Modric and Endrick gave Real Madrid a two-goal lead with strikes early in the first half but Juan Cruz reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in the 39th minutes after a handball inside the box by Real defender Jacobo Ramon.

A deflected strike from Cruz in the 59th minute equalised the match but substitute Garcia scored the winner for Real in the 93rd minute, netting a towering header at the near post from a Brahim Diaz cross.

“Gonzalo has been in a very good run with the reserves and he brought a lot,” Real manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters. “We have to be pleased with what the young players did... they are well prepared, they lack experience obviously, but they are doing very well.”

Ahead of Saturday’s La Liga derby against second-placed Atletico Madrid and next-weeks Champions League playoff clash at Manchester City, Ancelotti decided to rest several key starters such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Thibaut Courtois and started with youngsters Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio at the heart of their back-line because of their defensive injury crisis.

Real started the quarter-final well and were soon ahead, with Modric slotting home in the 18th minute after good work by in-form winger Rodrygo.

Teenage striker Endrick doubled Los Blancos’ lead with a poacher’s finish after the ball broke loose to him in the box.

Despite Real dominating proceedings, a mistake by Ramon in the 39th minute gifted Leganes a penalty. Cruz stepped up to score from the spot with a low strike low to Andriy Lunin’s left.

Ancelotti sent on Vinicius for Rodrygo for the second half, and the winger missed two good chances straight away.

Real paid the price for their profligacy when Cruz netted his second, with the aid of a deflection off Ferland Mendy.

Just when it seemed like the contest would be heading into extra-time, Diaz made a run up the right channel and crossed to Garcia, who scored his first senior goal for Real to send them into the semis.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2025