Ronaldo scores four in Madrid comeback

The Portuguese gave away a penalty but, after Gareth
Bale's equaliser, the Ballon d'Or holder then went on the
rampage at the Bernabeu to hand Carlo Ancelotti's men
another win

Cristiano Ronaldo struck four times
as Real Madrid maintained their
remarkable resurgence with a 5-1
victory over Elche at the Santiago
Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.
Having scored a hat-trick in the 8-2
mauling of Deportivo La Coruna on
Saturday, the Portugul international
was again in imperious form as he went one better on Tuesday,
converting 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 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 Rica international was
picking the ball out of his net after Ronaldo had conceded a
penalty.
The Real talisman 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 Ronaldo, 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 29-year-old took the spot-kick
himself and once again gave Herrera no chance as he
completed his hat-trick.
However, Ronaldo was not finished there and, having received
a through-ball from Bale in stoppage time, he poked the ball
past Herrera to secure Madrid an emphatic win