Eldense–Racing ends in a dramatic 3-3 draw with late Soberón brace and crowd-saving moments

Fernando Estévez tends to a sick fan during Eldense–Racing clash

The match began with Deportivo making an intense early push, pressing with determination as the Cantabrian side tried to respond. Iván Morante opened the scoring for Racing on their first trip forward, capitalizing on a rebound after the Barça defense initially blocked the ball from the right wing. The early goal gave Racing the edge as they moved ahead in the opening exchanges.

moments later, the game paused when a medical emergency in the stands caused concern among spectators. An elderly fan suffered heat-related distress, and the referee halted play for seven minutes. Fernando Estévez stepped onto the field, applied his medical knowledge, and checked the affected spectator’s condition. The incident was managed without further danger, allowing the match to resume with relief in the air.

Behind the restart, the visitors pressed again, with Eldense maintaining an attacking approach that emphasized their recent momentum. A goal from Carlos Hernández tied the match, shooting from a tight angle after a corner, but Racing goalkeeper displayed sharp reflexes to prevent the equalizer. Eldense continued to apply pressure into the first half, but found it difficult to break through the Cantabrian defense.

The defense of Racing remained resilient, repelling repeated Eldense advances while the Blaugranas attempted to carve out chances. The absence of goals in the recent run of play weighed on the scoreboard, and the 0-1 tally began to look heavier as time passed.

A further ten minutes were added after the standard 45 due to the in-stands incident. In that extended period, both teams briefly opened up the contest, and a header from a Racing defender extended Eldense’s arrears to 0-2. That sequence closed the first half, leaving Eldense frustrated but not out of the fight, much as seen in prior encounters with Tenerife.

After a lateral cross from Eldense toward Racing, Chapela attempted a shot on goal.

The Eldense coach expressed clear dissatisfaction with the first-half performance but kept his squad focused on narrowing the gap. Pedro Capó, Andone, and Cris Montes entered after the break, and the plan was straightforward: press higher and recapture momentum. Five minutes into the second half, Cris Montes struck from close range to reduce the deficit to 1-2, though his effort narrowly missed the post.

Shortly after, a quick counterattack led by Racing produced another goal, with Arana finishing after a sequence involving Eldense’s goalkeeper Aceves, who hesitated to make the save. The home crowd’s mood shifted as the visitors doubled their advantage, prompting a heated moment in the Racing stands that required referee review. A disputed collision near the penalty area sparked debate, but VAR ultimately did not award a penalty.

Despite Eldense’s advantage appearing tenuous, the game swung back as the visitors’ defense faced renewed pressure. Racing briefly looked secure, but the balance of play favored Eldense, who continued to press forward and search for more goals. A late push yielded a third goal for Racing, forcing Eldense to respond with urgency as the clock ticked toward the final quarter of the match.

With increased urgency, Eldense sought a dramatic turnaround. Their persistence paid off when Mario Soberón converted a finish to close the gap to 2-3, rejuvenating the home fans as the match entered a frantic phase. The momentum then shifted again as Soberón struck once more late in the game to restore parity and set up a tense finale at Nuevo Pepico Amat.

Soberón levels and keeps the drama alive

In the 84th minute, Soberón fired again, sending the crowd into a frenzy as Eldense completed a spectacular comeback that few expected after the early setback. The spectators witnessed a furious period with neither side holding clear sway, and the ball pinged around as both teams chased a late winner. Aceves produced a crucial save to deny a potential winner for Racing, preserving the excitement of a pulsating finish.

As the closing moments unfolded, Eldense held on to secure a dramatic 3-3 draw, a result that reflected a high-octane encounter and a costly defensive lapse that nearly cost them the match. The teams prepared for upcoming fixtures, with Eldense scheduled to meet Albacete next Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., while Racing aimed to regroup after a fiercely contested performance.

► CD Eldense: Aceves; Toni Abad, Carlos Hernández, Íñigo Piña, Marc Mateu (Doue, min. 74); Clemente (Cris Montes, min. 46), Sergio Ortuño, Timor (Pedro Capó, min. 46), Iván Chapela (Jorquera, min. 64); Soberón, Juanto (Andone, min. 46).

► Racing Santander: Jokin Ezkieta Mantilla, Germán, Rubén Alves (Pol Moreno, min. 46), Saul; Morante (Diego Campo, min. 78), Íñigo (Aldasoro, min. 46); Dani Fernández (Lago Junior, min. 86), Peque (Sangalli, min. 64), Vicente; Spider.

► Goals: 0-1 Iván Morante (min. 14), 0-2 German (min. 45+8), 0-3 Aranda (min. 55), 1-3 Soberón (min. 73), 2-3 Cris Montes (min. 78), 3-3 Soberón (min. 84).

► Referee: De La Fuente Ramos (Castilian-Leonese Committee). Yellow cards were shown to local players David Timor and Florin Andone.

► Attendance: The clash, part of the Hypermotion League’s 20th round (Second Division), drew 3,638 spectators to the Nuevo Pepico Amat Stadium.