By Fernando Kallas
MADRID (Reuters) -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 from a Brahim Diaz cross.
Ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga derby against second-placed Atletico Madrid and next-week’s Champions League playoff clash at Manchester City, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to rest several key starters such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Thibaut Courtois.
Missing defensive stalwart Dani Cavajal for the season with a torn ACL and their three top centrebacks Eder Militao, Antonio Ruediger and David Alaba also injured, Ancelotti gave 20-year-old Jacobo Ramon his first senior start alongside fellow academy player Raul Asencio.
Real’s young defenders struggled early on and allowed Leganes to create great chances through Diego Garcia and Oscar Rodriguez who forced Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to make two stunning saves to avoid the home side’s opening goal in the first and fourth minutes.
But Real slowly started to take control of proceedings with Brazilian teenager Endrick a constant menace up-front, wasting a good opportunity in the 13th minute.
Modric opened the scoring for Real in the 17th minute, netting a tidy finish from just inside the box and Endrick fired a rebound from close-range in the 25th.
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 to the left that was just out of Lunin’s reach.
Ancelotti brought Vinicius Jr off the bench after the break and the Brazilian missed an absolute sitter from close range before Endrick also wasted another great opportunity.
Cruz made it 2-2 when his shot from deflected off defender Ferland Mendy and wrongfooted the goalkeeper Lunin, who watched on helplessly as the ball slowly crossed the goal-line.
Just when it seemed like the contest would be heading into extra-time, Brahim 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.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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