Girona’s two attacks, which ended with goals from Blind (min. 37) and Yan Couto (min. 67), ended Elche’s hopes and momentum in the 32nd round of the Copa del Rey. The Franjiverdes had more control over the ball, got closer to the opponent’s goal and had more chances.. However, as has happened many times in the League, they paid the price for their failures in both areas.

team MichaelHe controlled the match as he wanted, without giving too much power or dominating the ball too much, and he knew how to give the ball the speed he needed at the necessary moments. Blind capitalized on a local defensive error shortly before half-time. And Yan Couto awarded a penalty midway through the second half.

Beccacece selected a starting eleven more similar to the League. He even kept San Román in goal, which makes it clear that the Argentinian coach does not have Edgar Badia and therefore wants another goalkeeper.. The starting team was almost the same as the team that had recently played in league competitions; The only innovation was John Chetauya, whom the green-green coach chose as center. Junior tackle Rodri Mendoza returned to the game as a starter.


The moment of the duel between Elche and Girona Matias Segarra


Good local starter

Elche came out with strong pressure and tried to prevent Girona from playing the ball from the back.. Tete Morente showed a good approach in the first game of the match. Then Rodri finished Nico Fernández’s cross and Juan Carlos barely saved the ball for the corner. The Elche team started to excite their fans with the match by scoring two corner kicks almost in a row.

Míchel’s team gradually took control of the game, without being able to maintain control of the ball. Miguel Gutierréz attempted a powerful shot on his first visit to the San Román goal, but it was stopped by the Benidorm goalkeeper.

But Elche didn’t give up and kept trying. Rodri managed to get past the superior Franjiverdes, with John Chetauya shooting in front for the second time forcing Juan Carlos to intervene, and Mourad with a header that went out.

But the difference in quality between one team and another was noticeable, especially when it came to the rapid use and movement of the ball. Yan Couto began to appear on the right wing and created danger every time he touched the ball.

In the 28th minute, Eric García was injured and Daley Blind entered the game.. The Dutch player put the Catalans ahead in the 37th minute. Following the corner kick taken by Colombian John Solís, Blind directed the ball towards the far post and made the unmarked score 0-1 against the passivity of the Franjiverde defense. Who saw how they retconned it from a set piece?

As a result of the goal, Míchel’s team was even more relieved. Beccacece’s team tried, but they could not reach it as easily as in the first minutes. The first half was reached with the Girona players’ minimal advantage.

Possible 1-1 to 0-2

After the break, Elche came out to equalize. He achieved this with a good move from Tete Morente from the right wing; and another by Rodri, who capitalized on the rebound inside the area following a robbery by Nico Fernandez.. The youth team was one of the most active teams in attack and showed its quality at many points.

Valery forced San Román to intervene and in the 63rd minute Bigas was injured and Josan came on, moving John into the center of defense.

Portu, who made a quick counter attack in the 67th minute, dribbled the ball quickly and when he reached the field, he left the ball to Yan Couto, making the score 0-2 and equalizing with a cross kick..

The score of 0-2 was very heavy for Franjiverdes, who continued to fight until the end. Beccacece brought in Nico Castro and Sergio León for Febas and Mourad; and to Borja Garcés and Fidel for Nico Fernández and Mario Gaspar in the final minutes.

The match is completely over and all that remains is to wait for Castile-La Mancha referee Alberola Rojas to announce the end of the match.

This ends Elche’s participation in this season’s Copa del Rey. They sell their defeat dearly and fall honorably against Girona, the true revelation of the First Division and one of the sensations of world football.

DATA SHEET

ELCHE: San Román, Carreira, Mario Gaspar (Fidel, m.88), Pedro Bigas (Josan, m.64), Carlos Clerc, John Chetauya, Áleix Febas (Nico Castro, m.74), Rodri Mendoza, Nico Fernández ( Borja Garcés, m.88), Tete Morente y Mourad (Sergio León, m.74).

GIRONA: Juan Carlos, Arnau Martínez, Eric García (Blind, m.29), Juanpe, Miguel Gutiérrez, John Solís (Kebe, m.74), Iván Martín (Pablo Torre, m.84), Valery, Yan Couto, Portu (Álex Garcia, m.84) and Stuani (Dovbyk, m.74).

GOALS: 0-1 m.37, Blind. 0-2 m.67, Yan Couto.

REFEREE: Alberola Rojas, from the Castile-La Mancha school. He showed a yellow card to Pedro Bigas (m.24).

STADIUM: Martínez Valero, in front of 15,518 spectators.