Real Madrid stages strong second-half comeback over Betis

Seville (Spain) Feb 19 (IANS) Real Madrid mounted a second-half comeback to defeat Real Betis 5-3 as they remained fourth in the La Liga football championship on Sunday.

Madrid were on Sunday evening down 1-2 at the break after two goals within four minutes -- one by Algeria s Aissa Mandi and the other an own-goal by the capital squad s Nacho reported Efe.

Both teams were great on the attack at Benito Villamarin Stadium with Madrid getting on the board first on a strike by Marco Asensio in the 11th minute although Betis then scored twice within four minutes to take the lead on the goal by Mandi and then Nacho s mistake.

Madrid s Marcelo left the match in the first half with a hamstring injury.

After the break however Madrid put on a strong show with Sergio Ramos putting the team even with a header in the 50th minute and Asensio blasting in a great shot nine minutes later.

It was Cristiano Ronaldo in the 65th minute who made it 4-2 on a fabulous feed by Casemiro thus notching his 10th tally in his last six outings although Betis answered back in the 85th minute on a shot by Sergio Leon.

Then in the 91st minute Karim Benzema superfluously found the twine to put the game away for the final 5-3 result.

Madrid played without German midfielder Toni Kroos who is on the injured list after taking a knock during 3-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League pre-quarterfinal

With the win Madrid are still in fourth place 17 points behind league leaders FC Barcelona.

Asensio s second tally before the 53 500 fans present was Real Madrid s 6000th La Liga goal making them the first club to hit that mark in the Spanish First Division.

Just five other teams in Europe s top five leagues -- all of them English squads -- have managed to reach that mark in league play: Everton Arsenal Liverpool Aston Villa and Manchester United. Meanwhile Toffees is on the threshold of becoming the first club to notch 7000 tallies.

--IANS
pur/vd