Elche contains the push of Sevilla

Elche managed to stop the winning streak in the Sevilla championship at Martínez Valero (1-1), which failed to transform its clear dominance in the game, especially in the second half, into clear scoring chances.

After a first part from power to power, in which the Elche team managed to get ahead on the scoreboard, Sevilla was master of the game in the second act against a ruthless rival who, however, knew how to join their lines so as not to go through too much trouble.

Julen Lopetegui’s team wanted to demonstrate their power from the first moment by cornering Elche in their field. The Sevilla team blocked the exit of the ball from their rival and opened the field with Suso and Óscar, while En-Nesyri was threatening to the back of the local defense. Sevilla’s dominance was about to translate into a goal after three minutes, when Óscar was about to score with a shot that crashed into the post after a poor clearance by Roco.

Elche, stunned, found help in a personal action by Mojica, that ended with a shot from Guti that Bono saved. The play gave Elche confidence, which seconds later he was about to score with a new shot from Diego González that the Moroccan goalkeeper again took with reflexes.

The local team, grown, found the goal at third in a fantasy pass from Fidel to space that Roco, a central defender off the hook in attack, took the opportunity to beat Bono. The goal spurred Sevilla, who sought to equalize immediately with a shot from Jordan and a header from En-Nesyri.

Elche took a step back and gave control of the game to his rival, but did not give up on counterattacking. Escribá’s team brushed the second in a new move by Mojica, which Benedetto was about to convert into a goal.

When Sevilla was more stuck, a strategic action rescued the team. En-Nesyri appeared in the area to finish off a side free kick with power, five minutes before the break.

Elche, who lost Lucas Boyé due to injury, He reacted with courage and went around the goal in the last seconds in two corners that passed through Bono’s area.

Sevilla returned to take control after the break and threatened a couple of arrivals that En-Nesyri could not complete on goal.

Escribá reacted and changed the system with the entry of Palacios by Verdú, going to play with a defense of four, which allowed his team to balance the game and be less exposed on the wings.

Lopetegui also stirred up the game by increasing the firepower of his team with the entry of Papu Gómez, Lamela and Mir, who as soon as he entered the field missed a clear chance after a counterattack led by Suso.

The Seville group, in which Delaney debuted, took advantage of the depth of his bench and the physical fatigue of Elche, who could barely defend himself with the ball, to definitely incline the game towards the Elche area.

Sevilla’s offensive monologue did not change, however, on scoring occasions and Elche knew how to protect a point that tastes like victory without excessive stress.

Elche: Kiko Casilla; Gonzalo Verdú (Palacios, m. 53), Roco (Josema, m. 65), Diego González; Josan, Raúl Guti, Marcone, Fidel, Mojica; Benedetto (Carrillo, m. 65) and Lucas Boyé (Pere Milla, m.31).

Sevilla: Bond; Jesús Navas, Diego Carlos, Rekik, Acuña; Fernando, Jordán (Delaney, m. 68), Rakitic (Rafa Mir, m. 60); Suso (Papu Gómez, d. 60), Óscar (Lamela, d. 60) and En-Nesyri (Idrissi, d. 86).

Goals: 1-0, min.10: Roco. 1-1, min.40: En-Nesyri.

Referee: Pizarro Gómez (Madrid Committee). He showed a yellow card to Fidel and Gonzalo Verdú, from Elche.

Incidents: Match corresponding to the third day of the Santander League played at the Martínez Valero stadium in Elche before 10,385 spectators.