Late Bellingham Equalizer Salvages Point for Real Madrid Against Spirited Elche
Key Takeaways
- Jude Bellingham rescued Real Madrid with an 87th minute equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw after Elche had twice taken the lead at Martínez Valero
- Elche led through Aleix Febas' 53rd minute strike and Álvaro Rodríguez's spectacular effort from outside the box in the 84th minute before Bellingham's late heroics
- Victor Chust's second yellow card in the 96th minute reduced Elche to ten men, but Real Madrid couldn't capitalize on the numerical advantage in the closing moments
Elche, Spain — Real Madrid salvaged a point in dramatic fashion as Jude Bellingham's 87th minute equalizer secured a 2-2 draw against a spirited Elche side at Martínez Valero on Sunday. In a match that burst to life in the second half, the home team twice took the lead only to be pegged back by the determined visitors from the capital.
After a goalless first half, the breakthrough finally came in the 53rd minute when Aleix Febas gave Elche the advantage. The midfielder finished clinically from the left side of the six-yard box to the bottom right corner after Germán Valera threaded a perfect through ball that split the Real Madrid defense. The goal energized the home supporters, who sensed their team might be on the verge of a memorable result.
Real Madrid responded in the 78th minute when Dean Huijsen equalized from close range. The defender reacted quickest following a corner, firing a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner after Bellingham had kept the attack alive. The goal showcased Madrid's persistence and set the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
The drama intensified in the 84th minute when Elche recaptured the lead through Álvaro Rodríguez. The forward struck with a sublime left-footed effort from outside the box that nestled into the bottom left corner, assisted by Martim Neto's headed pass following a lightning-fast break. The stadium erupted as Elche supporters believed they might secure all three points against the Spanish giants.
Their jubilation was short-lived, however, as Bellingham demonstrated his class just three minutes later. The English midfielder capped an influential performance with a right-footed shot from very close range following a set piece situation, with Kylian Mbappé providing the crucial assist. The goal highlighted Bellingham's knack for arriving in dangerous positions at pivotal moments.
The match concluded in controversy when Elche's Victor Chust, who had been cautioned in the 68th minute, received a second yellow card in the sixth minute of stoppage time, resulting in his dismissal. Despite the numerical advantage in the final moments, Real Madrid couldn't find a winner, with Mbappé himself receiving a yellow card in the ninth minute of added time. The draw keeps both teams' momentum intact as they continue their campaigns in La Liga, with the passionate Elche faithful celebrating their team's resilient performance against one of Spain's powerhouses.