The wind and rain that showed up in the first half could not derail the match. Elche CF gathered nearly a thousand green and white fans who filled Carlos Belmonte, braving the cold and cheering as Óscar Plano struck early in the second half to put Elche on the scoreboard.
The game looked firmly under Elche’s command, with sights set on a third straight victory. That plan shifted when Nico Castro picked up a yellow card, then earned a second for a reckless challenge, leaving his team a man short with more than half an hour still to play.
Nearly a thousand Elche fans have already made their way to Albacete
With numerical superiority, Albacete pressed forward and squeezed Elche into its own half. In the 76th minute, Dani Escriche, the veteran forward, found space after Clerc touched a ball and guided it into the net, giving the hosts hope and pulling level with the visitors.
The momentum shifted as late in the game, the two sides fought for the winner. Elche defended stoutly, and a handful of Albacete chances were repelled by feisty defending. The end of the match featured more attempts from the locals as they pushed to reclaim the lead, while Elche held firm and clung to a share of the points.
Beccacece kept the lineup steady, inserting Murad as an attacking option after Borja Garcés was injured. The visitors matched up in a tough, physical duel that spilled into the midfield and wide lanes. Mourad used his aerial game to stretch the play, while Febas, Nico Castro, and Nico Fernández tried to build up through the middle, with Óscar Plano providing the link in the midfield and Josan supporting on the right flank.
Plano tested the host goalkeeper with a driven shot from the edge of the box, following a cross from Josan that met Bernabé at the near post. The save kept the scores level and injected a new sense of urgency into the contest.
The wind and rain intensified the drama as the second half wore on, and neither side could find a decisive breakthrough. The break arrived with the score still tied and the atmosphere electric with a mix of tension and hope.
As soon as the restart began, Elche took the lead through Óscar Plano. A precise cross from Josan found Plano in a perfect position, and his header barely eluded Bernabé’s reach to give Elche the advantage.
The match continued with Elche controlling the tempo while Albacete pressed for a second goal to turn the tide. Mourad headed a cross from Josan that nearly extended the advantage, underscoring Elche’s resilience as the minutes ticked by.
Then came a controversial moment. Nico Castro’s second yellow card turned the balance in Albacete’s favor and opened the door for a late fightback. The shift in dynamics sparked a desperate push from the home side, who sought a way to turn the match in their favor despite going a man down.
The tactical battle intensified. Beccacece made a sequence of substitutions to reinforce the defense and replenish the attack, bringing in fresh legs to shore up the frontline and maintain pressure from the wings. Elche sat deeper, hoping to weather the storm and strike on the counter when the opportunity arose.
Elche clung to possession and deployed a compact defensive block to frustrate Albacete. The home side hurled crosses into the box and launched occasional forays into the Elche half, testing the visitors’ resolve as the clock dwindled toward the final whistle.
The late stages offered high drama, with Manu Fuster’s shot hitting the post and Dani Escriche leveling the match in a dramatic sequence that highlighted the competitive spirit of both teams. The draw reflected a hard-fought balance, earned through perseverance and tactical discipline on both sides.
Eight additional minutes were added. Elche pressed to reclaim the lead, while Albacete fought to protect the precious point. In the end, Beccacece’s men secured a hard-earned point after a tense and grueling encounter that showcased resilience and grit from both ensembles.
Beccacece: “We were superior 11 against 11”
DATA SHEET:
Albacete: Bernabé, Carlos Isaac, Djetei, Glauder, Jonathan Silva, Olaetxea, Riki, Agus Medina, Manu Fuster, Dani Escriche, Higinio.
Elche: San Román, Mario Gaspar, Pedro Bigas, Clerc, Josan, Febas, Nico Castro, Tete Morente, Nico Fernández, Óscar Plano, Mourad.
GOALS: 0-1 Óscar Plano at 49, 1-1 Dani Escriche at 76.
JUDGE: Sesma Espinosa. Yellow cards: Riki, Olaetxea, Mario Gaspar, Nico Fernández, Fidel, Agus Medina, Raúl Guti. Red: Nico Castro for second yellow (two bookings, 28 and 56).
STADIUM: Carlos Belmonte with a full house of around 10,203 spectators, nearly a thousand of them Franjiverde followers.
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