Eldense aimed to extend a solid run and keep Fernando Esteve’s squad firmly in the hunt. The plan was straightforward and bold: chase first place by visiting Nova Creu Alta and taking three points, while hoping Alcoyano stumbled in their next fixture. The visitors began with clear intent to test Sabadell’s defense, aiming at Guille Vallejo’s goal from the opening whistle and signaling their desire to dominate the early exchanges on Sabadell’s home turf.
Sabadell started with a compact, focused opening spell, looking to unsettle Eldense within minutes. Vallejo responded quickly, shaping the first real threats and underscoring the visitors’ resolve. Eldense weathered the early pressure and replied with purposeful balls forward. Juanto Ortuño delivered a perfectly timed cross that Sergio Puig guided into the net, turning the momentum in Eldense’s favor and easing the tension from earlier play. In the opening stretch, both teams jostled for control in midfield, with Eldense showing initiative and Soberón pushing forward aggressively. Chris Montes found a shooting lane, testing Puig and signaling a shift in the visitors’ momentum.
Sabadell pressed again to level the score. Juanet and teammates probed the three-post defense, but Vallejo stood firm. The danger from Eldense’s forward push was evident as the visitors defended with discipline, launching rapid transitions that kept Sabadell on the back foot and created a tense backdrop for the home side.
In a decisive moment, Eldense extended their lead after sustained pressure. Juanto Ortuño linked up in a quick sequence that prompted Sabadell’s defense to react cautiously. Ramón Andrés issued a warning and Eldense capitalized when Alex Martínez converted a penalty earned after a defensive miscue. Puig bundled in a second goal for Eldense, establishing a 0-2 cushion that underscored a dominant first half. Sabadell looked vulnerable as Eldense controlled the tempo and threatened to widen the gap, yet Sabadell stayed within reach as the half approached its end. Eldense carried confidence into halftime, occupying a leading position in the early standings of the First RFEF group.
Second Half: Consistent Control
Coming out of the break, Eldense showed discipline and organization, denying Sabadell clear routes to goal. The home side started the second period with renewed intent, aiming for a quicker opening sequence to unsettle the visitors. Sabadell found fewer clear chances as Eldense’s defense held firm, Vallejo continuing to marshal the back line effectively. A few bookings appeared for Sabadell, and a sense of urgency emerged in pockets, yet these moments did not translate into sustained pressure or a real threat to Eldense’s advantage.
Eldense then widened the gap through another incisive move, once again driven by Juanto Ortuño. The hosts pressed for a response, trying to destabilize the visitors’ structure, but Eldense kept their shape. The ball worked its way through the lines as Eldense’s players read Sabadell’s defense well, making a third goal seem almost inevitable as they extended control. Despite Sabadell’s best efforts, Eldense’s defense stayed resolute, and the scoreline remained 0-3, reinforcing Eldense’s elevated position in the standings and signaling a potential shift at the top of the group as the campaign progressed.
The match drifted into a calmer phase as both sides rotated, bringing fresh energy to the pitch. Sabadell tried to spark anything from wide areas but could not pierce Eldense’s organized lines. The visitors maintained clear intent to close out the day with a commanding win and push for leadership, while Sabadell sought a late spark to salvage pride in front of their supporters at Nova Creu Alta. Seven minutes after Sergi García beat Vallejo, Sabadell found a brief moment of hope with a goal, but it was not enough to change the result or momentum of the night.
The closing moments brought another twist as Guillem Molina received a second yellow card, leaving Sabadell with ten men. Eldense finished the day with three points and rose to a leading position in the Second Group of the First RFEF, while Sabadell left feeling that a crucial opportunity had slipped away. The final whistle confirmed Eldense’s victory and their upward trajectory as the campaign moved forward.
Data Sheet
► Sabadell lineup: Sergi Puig, Juanmi Carrión, Morgado, Molina, Altimira, Joanet, David Astals, Pau Víctor, Corbalán, Sergi García, Adán Gurdiel, Alberto Fernández, Dieste, Alex Sala, Moha.
► Eldense lineup: Vallejo, Toni Abad, Xavi Estacio, Álex Martínez, Pardo, Cris Montes, Manu Nieto, Soberón, Carnicer, Núñez, Diego González, Capó, Juanto Ortuño, Clemente.
► Goals: 0-1, 19 min Cris Montes. 0-2, 33 min Álex Martínez (penalty). 0-3, 57 min Juanto Ortuño. 1-3, 84 min Sergi Garcia.
► Referee: Ramon Andrés. Yellow cards: Sabadell Moha, Altimira; Eldense Núñez, Toni Abad, Juanto Ortuño. Red card: Guillem Molina in the 86th minute for a double booking.
► Stadium: Nova Creu Alta. Attendance: 2,902 spectators, as reported by the club.
Only the on-field results and the day’s events determine the outcome, with Eldense rising in the standings as the campaign advances.