Real Madrid pulls off a thrilling comeback to claim victory in Rome
The young players Carlos Espí (82') and Endrick (85'), who came on as substitutes when Real Madrid was desperately attacking, tied the game, and Antonio Rüdiger scored the final goal to make it 4-3 (90').
Image from the Real Madrid game
Real Madrid pulled off a dramatic comeback on Wednesday to win 4-3 at the last minute on Roma's home field in the second matchday of the Champions League.
Roma took the lead with a great shot by Martin de Roon (20'), Kylian Mbappé responded with a shot from the edge of the box (25'), but two goals by Malen (51', 57') once again sank the Merengue team.
Young substitutes Carlos Espí (82') and Endrick (85'), brought on as Real Madrid pushed desperately for an equalizer, scored to level the match, and Antonio Rüdiger scored the decisive goal (90') to seal the 4-3 victory.
Endrick breathed new life into the Merengue team during the half-hour he was on the field in Real Madrid's second European victory in two matches.
Roma presses
The home team got off to a better start, putting pressure on the Whites, who made numerous mistakes and turned the ball over repeatedly in the opening minutes.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept the team in the game early on with two great saves—one on a shot from the edge of the box by Mario Hermoso (4') and another on a shot by Argentine Matías Soulé (5').
The home team's persistence finally paid off with a shot from the edge of the box by De Roon (20') that found its way into the Merengue net.
Roma made it difficult for Real Madrid to move the ball forward by practically marking them man-to-man, a situation that Mbappé took advantage of to tie the game.
The Frenchman shook off his marker and ran toward the goal to unleash a shot from the edge of the box to tie the game (25').
Mbappé scored his second goal in two Champions League matches on the day he set a new record, at age 27, as the youngest player to reach 100 Champions League appearances.
The French star surpassed Argentine star Lionel Messi, who had reached that symbolic milestone at age 28.
The goal spurred on Real Madrid , which began to create more chances by taking advantage of Yan Diomande and Vinicius's speed down the wings.
Jude Bellingham had a chance to score the second goal, but his shot went wide, grazing the post (45+1').
In the midst of Real Madrid's best spell, a mistake by Vinicius led to a turnover and a through ball to Malen, who made it 2-1 by beating Courtois as he came off his line (51').
Vinicius did not have his best game on the day he learned of his four-match LaLiga suspension for pulling an opponent's hair.
The Brazilian has yet to find his stride this season, with just one goal in ten official matches.
Endrick and Espí enter the game
With the score at 3-1, Real Madrid showed their fighting spirit and went all out on the attack.
Mourinho sent all his firepower onto the field with Carlos Espí and Endrick up front and Arda Güler in the center to provide some control.
Real Madrid took control of the match in the final half-hour, and it took the Merengues just seven minutes to turn the game around.
First, Carlos Espí connected with a header right in front of the goal (82') after capitalizing on a header rebound from Endrick.
The Brazilian scored the second goal by finishing off a corner kick taken by Arda Güler (85'), and just when it looked like the match would end in a draw, Rüdiger stepped up.
The German defender headed in a third corner kick taken by Güler to make it 4-3 (90').
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