Madrid, January 4 (BNA): Rodrigo scored a second-half goal and celebrated in honor of the late Pele as Real Madrid beat fourth-division club Cacerinho 1-0 to qualify for the Copa del Rey round of 16.
The Brazilian striker broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, rounding two defenders inside the area before sending a right-footed shot into the top corner, then celebrating with an imitation of Pele’s traditional punch in the air.
Pele died on Thursday at the age of 82 and was buried in Brazil on Tuesday.
Real Madrid were making their Copa Cup debut in the Round of 32 as they were among the four teams in the Spanish Super Cup, along with Barcelona, Real Betis and Valencia, the Associated Press reports.
Rodrygo was among the few starters used by coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has rested players like Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric.
Eden Hazard started, but was substituted before Rodrygo could open the scoring.
Caserinho upset Girona in the previous round.
Other results
Two First Division clubs have been eliminated by Second Division opponents. Rayo Vallecano lost 2-0 at Sporting Gijon, who scored both of his goals with Uros Milovanovic in the second half. Getafe lost 3-2 to Levante, who won with Wesley in the first minute of stoppage time.
Elche, who finished last in the Spanish League, lost to third-division club Ceuta 1-0, as the hosts scored the winning goal with Rodri in the 44th minute. Elche, the only team that has not yet won in the league after 15 rounds, played a man down from the position 61 due to the red card of striker Ezequiel Pons.
In the only encounter between first-division clubs, Espanyol needed extra time to defeat Celta Vigo 3-1 after drawing 1-1 in regulation. Sergi Darder and Nico Melamed scored for the hosts in extra time.
Villarreal defeated Cartagena 5-1 and all the goals came in the second half after the hosts took the lead in the first half, while Valencia defeated La Nucia 3-0 with goals from Justin Kluivert, Elix Moreba and Hugo Duro.
On Wednesday, Barcelona will face third-division Intercity, while Atletico Madrid will face second-division team Oviedo.