MADRID, Jan 14 : Substitute Jefte Betancor scored twice as second-tier Albacete pulled off a dramatic 3-2 victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid on Wednesday, eliminating them from the Copa del Rey at the round-of-16 stage on Alvaro Arbeloa’s managerial debut.
The hosts took the lead in the 42nd minute with Javier Villar’s header but Real struck back just before halftime with Franco Mastantuono pouncing on a rebound from a corner.
Albacete regained the lead in the 82nd minute when Jefte unleashed a venomous strike from a poor clearance into the back of the net.
Real Madrid thought they had rescued the tie in stoppage time when Guler’s corner was met by Gonzalo Garcia, whose towering header made it 2-2.
But as the visitors pressed for a late winner, they left themselves exposed at the back, with Jefte breaking free on the counter-attack and unleashing a sublime right-footed strike into the top corner to seal a shock victory for the hosts.
