Elche will continue on its path against Amorebieta
Elche earned a hard fought win when it mattered most. In a tense, gray atmosphere, the Franjiverdes managed to overpower a stubborn Amorebieta side. The Basques defended bravely and kept the outcome in doubt until late, but a decisive moment finally opened the path to three points. The match stretched into stoppage time with the box still proving a thorn for the visitors and a moment of risk that could have shifted the balance had the ball dipped differently off a deflected effort.
The objective for Elche was clear: secure three points and close the gap to the promotion playoff positions. The team moved just two steps closer to that target and celebrated the progress while reflecting on a previous setback in Espanyol’s venue. The game plan had been conservative in structure, with Beccacece opting for two substitutions rather than three, reinforcing Mourad as a central attacking presence even with Borja Garcés and Sergio León waiting in reserve. Pedro Bigas joined the defense core, Diego González took a central role, and Nico Castro arrived in midfield to cover for the injured Raul Guti.
Early in the contest, Elche showed intent with a scoring opportunity from a Morente cross that narrowly missed the intended finish. Yet the first half did not yield a breakthrough as the French keeper stood firm and the Elche attackers found little space around the box. Pablo Campos remained vigilant between the posts and faced careful testing rather than sustained pressure.
Aleix Febas displayed sharp footwork, weaving against Amorebieta, while the visitors lined up a compact block behind the ball. The Elche buildup repeatedly encountered a disciplined backline and a midfield chain that pressed effectively, stalling the rhythm of the Franjiverdes as they hunted the opening goal.
Haritz Mujica organized a robust defensive shape for Amorebieta, a five-man line with four midfielders and a lone striker ready to spring on any exposed outlet. The Basques absorbed pressure and looked for the quick counter whenever the space appeared, a strategy that kept Elche honest and relentless at times, but often raced into a crowded area that offered few clear scoring lanes.
In the opening exchanges of the second half, the tempo picked up. Elche pushed higher, seeking quicker ball circulation, and finally broke through in the 52nd minute. A surging move found Oscar Plano in space after Clerc shifted into space, and he converted a precise finish past the goalkeeper, sparking celebration inside the stadium. The goal momentarily altered the balance, but AMorebieta responded with renewed focus, and the match swung on a knife edge as the goal was later ruled out following an off the ball incident reviewed by VAR.
The game evolved into a more open phase, with Bigas and Garcés combining to test the opponent from the wings. A series of crosses and headers kept the atmosphere tense, and Morente produced a dangerous cross that threatened again in the ensuing minutes. Despite Elche’s pressing, Amorebieta remained dangerous on the counter and created moments that demanded last ditch defending from the home side.
Beccacece shifted his lineup as the clock wore on, injecting fresh legs at pace with Mourad and Fidel entering the fray to strengthen the attack and evolution of the pressing scheme. As the minutes ticked by, the match grew more scrappy, with both teams trading blows and the tempo dipping slightly as fatigue set in. Amorebieta, seeking safety, was content with a point, while Elche pushed for the winner that would settle the game in their favor.
With only minutes left, a corner delivered by Mario Gaspar found a glancing header that slipped through defenders and crossed the line. The goal sparked a surge in celebration as the home crowd sensed a breakthrough. A late surge from the visitors threatened to equalize, but a crucial save preserved the lead and kept Elche in control as the clock wound down. The final whistle arrived with Elche securing a hard earned victory and continuing their climb in the league standings.
The match remained a reminder of Elche’s growing cohesion under the current manager and their ability to extract results in challenging circumstances. The Franjiverdes left the field with renewed belief that they can push further in the campaign, while Amorebieta took a difficult loss but demonstrated resilience and a clear strategy to build on for future fixtures.
DATA SHEET:
-Elche: San Román, Josan, Mario Gaspar, Pedro Bigas, Clerc, Aleix Febas, Nico Castro, Nico Fernández, Oscar Plano, Tete Morente, Mourad. Subs: Cristian Salvador, Borja Garcés, Fidel, Adam, Sergio León, etc.
Amorebieta: Pablo Campos, Mier, Manu Hernando, Gayà, Félix, Lasure, Carbonell, Fran Morán, Dorrio, Aviles, Morcillo. Subs: Rayco, Jauregi, Edwars, Eraso, Quintero, etc.
GOALS: 1-0, 52nd minute, Oscar Plano; 2-0, 92nd minute, Tete Morente.
JUDGE: Arcediano Monescillo. Yellow cards: Manu Hernando, Fidel, Gayá.
STADIUM: Martínez Valero with a crowd of 14,042 in attendance.