masterclass to single-handedly steer Real
Madrid to a come-from-behind 5-1 win over
Elche.
Having scored a hat-trick in the 8-2 mauling of
Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, the Portuguese
was again in imperious form as he went one
better on Tuesday.
He converted two penalties on his way to a four-
goal haul as Real once again produced a dazzling
display.
Ronaldo's night had hardly begun as he would
have wished - he was at fault for the 15th-minute
penalty that gave Elche a shock lead through Edu
Albacar.
But a wounded Madrid - and Ronaldo in particular
- rallied, with three quick goals of their own
through Gareth Bale and a double from the FIFA
Ballon d'Or winner to lead at the break.
His third came with 10 minutes remaining before
the fourth - a typically cool finish from Bale's
pass - arrived in injury time, as Elche simply had
no response.
After conceding eight goals in four La Liga
matches, Iker Casillas was dropped in favour of
Keylor Navas in goal for Real but 15 minutes into
his debut the Costa Rican was picking the ball
out of his net after Ronaldo had conceded a
penalty.
The Portugal international was punished for
making contact with Pedro Mosquera when
clearing a corner and Albacar lashed the spot-
kick into the top corner, giving Navas no chance
despite the goalkeeper diving the right way.
Elche's lead only lasted five minutes, though, as
Madrid came surging back into the game with
three goals in 12 minutes.
James Rodriguez created the first after 20
minutes with a pin-point cross from the left that
Bale met with a glancing header, although Manu
Herrera should have done better in the Elche goal
as the ball slipped under his grasp.
Real went ahead for the first time eight minutes
later when they were awarded a penalty of their
own - Mosquera adjudged to have brought down
Marcelo.
Ronaldo's emphatic spot-kick gave Herrera no
chance and four minutes later the forward scored
again with a perfectly placed header.
Marcelo made progress down the left before
firing a cross in towards the 29-year-old, who
outjumped Sergio Pelegrin and headed the ball
into the bottom corner.
Chances continued to come for the hosts but
Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos and Ronaldo were all
denied by Herrera before half-time.
Both sides had early sights of goal after the
break but Coro and Ronaldo were both wayward
with their finishing as they blazed over the
crossbar from inside the penalty area.
Herrera was called into action after 66 minutes
when a quick free-kick from Kroos gave Ronaldo
a clear shot at goal and despite the wall
collapsing in front of him, the goalkeeper made a
good save with his feet.
With 10 minutes remaining, Madrid were awarded
a second penalty of the match as substitute
Mario Pasalic felled Ronaldo.
Having dusted himself down, the forward took
the spot-kick himself and once again gave
Herrera no chance as he completed his hat-trick.
However, he was not finished there and, having
received a throughball from Bale in stoppage
time, he poked the ball past Herrera to secure
Madrid an emphatic win.
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