Youngster Enzo scores in debut as Madrid advances in Copa quest
Enzo Zidane made his dad proud on Wednesday, scoring in his competitive debut for Real Madrid.
Coach Zinedine Zidane gave his son a chance to shine in the second leg of Madrid's Copa del Rey tie against third-tier Cultural Leonesa.
The 21-year-old Enzo seized his opportunity just 18 minutes after coming off the bench, firing home from the edge of the area in a 6-1 rout.
"It's a dream to debut with Real Madrid and score a goal," Enzo Zidane said. "And I'm happy that it happened at the Bernabeu and with a victory."
The home fans loudly chanted the youngster's name after his goal. He said the game jersey would go to his father for all his support through the years.
"I'm happy for Enzo as a father and as a coach," said former France and Madrid great Zidane, who became a legend in a five-year playing career at Santiago Bernabeu, scoring a sublime winner in the 2002 Champions League final.
"I'm happy for his goal and for what he did during the game.
"When I get home, I'm sure I'll have some words for him. But right now, as a coach, I'm happy for all the players."
Using mostly second-string lineups for both matches, Madrid advanced 13-2 on aggregate following its 7-1 win in the first leg.
Young forward Mariano also impressed with a hat-trick -- the first of his goals coming just 22 seconds into the match.
"This is a dream," said the 23-year-old Dominican. "It's incredible to score one goal. To get three, it's indescribable, really. I'm very happy."
Madrid's other goals came from Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez, who got a rare chance in the starting lineup, and an own-goal by Leonesa's Cesar Morgado.
Enzo Zidane had already played during a preseason tour and has made almost 50 appearances for Madrid's reserves, but it was the first time his father put one of his four sons to play with the first team in a competitive match.
The midfielder entered the game at halftime and scored his goal in the 63rd minute.
Another of Zidane's sons is a goalkeeper in the club's youth squads.
Cultural Leonesa's lone goal came on a powerful long-range shot by midfielder Yeray Gonzalez.
Zidane also used the game to give some playing time to midfielder Casemiro and defender Pepe, who had been nursing injuries.
Also among the starters for Zidane was much-hyped 17-year-old Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard.
Before the game, a minute's silence was held in honor of the victims of Monday's plane crash involving Brazilian club Chapecoense.
Madrid had its round-of-32 games played in advance to open up dates for its participation in FIFA's Club World Cup later this month.
On Saturday, Zidane's men travel to Barcelona for 'El Clasico' in the league.
Trailing Madrid by six points in the table, the match is being viewed as something of a must-win for Barca if it hopes to retain its Primera Division title.
Barcelona has some work to do too in the second leg of its cup tie against third-division Hercules after its second-string could only manage a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
Playing with several youngsters and fringe players, the Catalans needed a 58th-minute goal by 18-year-old Carles Alena to cancel out David Mainz's strike for the host six minutes earlier.
The return leg is on Dec 21 at Camp Nou.
"We are going to try to advance," Mainz said.
"We know it's going to be complicated, they may use some first-team players, but who knows?"
Elsewhere, visiting Atletico Madrid pounded third-tier Guijuelo 6-0 in their first-leg last-32 tie.
