Elche CF secured a thrilling comeback victory against FC Cartagena on Sunday, winning 2-1 at the Martínez Valero Stadium. The match, part of the LaLiga Hypermotion, showcased Elche's tenacity as they fought back after trailing at half-time.
The game kicked off with Cartagena initially taking control, creating several early chances. Just five minutes after the start of the second half, Alex Millán scored for Cartagena, putting the visitors up 1-0. His net-finding effort was assisted by Dani Escriche, who executed a slick counter-attack, leaving Millán to finish with precision.
Following the goal, Elche responded with urgency. The turning point came when Elche was awarded a penalty after Julián Delmás handled the ball inside the box. Although Agustín Álvarez's penalty was saved by Pablo Cuñat, the rebound fell to Germán Valera, who equalized for the home team just one minute later.
Minutes later, Elche continued the barrage. Agustín Álvarez redeemed himself for the earlier miss by heading the ball home from a pinpoint cross by Josan, giving Elche the lead at 2-1.
The remainder of the match saw Elche controlling possession as they sought to secure their victory. Despite some late pushes from Cartagena, including attempts from Assane Ndiaye and other forwards, they failed to penetrate Elche’s defense effectively.
Elche’s coach, Eder Sarabia, expressed his satisfaction with the team's resilience, stating, "We showed great character to come back and win the match. These kinds of victories are what can propel our season forward." His counterpart, Guillermo Romo, lamented the missed opportunities, emphasizing the need for his team to improve after suffering their sixth consecutive defeat.
With this win, Elche climbs to the top of the league standings with 50 points, momentarily taking the first position pending the result of Mirandés' game. On the flip side, Cartagena remains firmly at the bottom, 18 points adrift from safety.
This match reflected both teams' current trajectories—Elche demonstrating ambition and determination, and Cartagena struggling to find solutions as they search for points to avoid relegation.
Looking forward, Elche’s next fixture is against Racing, where they aim to maintain their winning streak. For Cartagena, the upcoming match against Eibar will be pivotal for their aspirations to challenge their lowly position.