From drama to joy. What looked like a disaster for Orihuela ended with smiles at Los Arcos after they were left with ten men and had to carry De las Cuevas off the field at half-time. Thanks to the double signed by Diego EspejoHe is exactly the football player who replaced the experienced Alicante midfielder.
Although El Palo started well, gaining control of the local area through the actions of Javi López and Cevallos, Orihuela resisted the initial attacks and it was his turn to fight back. Mendi’s goal was disallowed. Sergi Guilló’s men were unable to find their place and suffered against an ambitious opponent.
To make matters worse, ten minutes before half-time the locals would see how Mendi received two yellow cards that humiliated the “scorpions”.. Even Aitor Arias had to save a move from Javi López that could have made it 0-1 at half-time.
El Palo, who had the upper hand at the restart, was the one to seek out the Orihuela zone and try to unblock the first draw. Kamal and Mike got their first opportunities at Malaga, so rotations began to form on Sergi Guilló’s bench.
Double from a defender
That’s when it appeared Diego Espejo Orihuela solved the match in the blink of an eye, first with a powerful shot that went past Del Valle, then with a cross into the area that was resolved with a bicycle kick, making it 2-0.
The visiting team did not give up with 10 minutes remaining. Javi López showed an effective performance many times in the offensive zone of his team, closing the gap and adding excitement to the last part of the match. Orihuela stepped up its defense against a determined opponent who had several draw chances. This time luck favored the “scorpions” who added three more to catch their breath.
MATCH COMMITTEE
ORIHUELA: Aitor Arias; Jaime Escobar, Goyo Medina (Sebas, 77′), Sergio Camacho (Kamal, 46′), Adrián Revilla, De las Cuevas (Diego Espejo, 40′), Brian Pallares (Alu, 65′), Juanmi Callejón (Fran Martínez, 77′), Marc Sirera, Luis Booker and Mendi.
EL PALO: Del Valle; Romero, Lulu Rodríguez, Rafa Guerrero, Víctor Vázquez, Joao Paulo (Baka, 60′), Manu de Lama (Christian, 70′), Sierra (Juanma, 70′), Amin (Cobo, 60′), Javi López and Cevallos .
GOALS: 1-0 (67′) Diego Espejo. 2-0 (72′) Diego Espejo. 2-1 (79′) Javi López.
REFEREE: Pol Arenas Mora. He alerted Booker and Diego Espejo for the locals, and Amin, Castillo and Roberto Sierra for the visitors. He sent Mendi (36′) from Orihuela.
STADIUM: Los Arcos.