Eldense pressed for another chance to push toward promotion when they hosted Águilas at New Pepico Amat. The visitors came with momentum after a victory over La Nucía, and the home crowd sensed every twist in a tense clash that could shape the race for the play-offs. The local side knew three points were crucial as Mar Menor had slipped away in the stretch, and every point mattered in the battle to climb the table.
From the opening minutes, neither side could seize control. They traded possession and measured their movements, each waiting for a telltale sign. The early action produced a few half-chances, with Eldense’s attack line trying to unlock a compact defense. A moment of fortune seemed to favor the hosts when a low cross found a dangerous bend near the opponent’s goal, testing the visiting goalkeeper and the center backs alike.
Águilas began to settle in and push higher up the pitch. Luismi Andrada and his teammates moved into more advanced positions, pressing Eldense’s buildup and forcing turnovers. The Azulgranas faced steady pressure as the visitors advanced into the final third more frequently, though the period closed with Eldense defending resolutely and Águilas failing to convert a key chance as the first half drew to a close.
After the break, the visitors seized the initiative with a quick start, taking the lead in the first minute from a well-orchestrated set piece. Quim Araujo converted cleanly, and Luismi Andrada reacted quickly to parry the shot away. Eldense then tightened their lines, resisting a moment of danger as the ball pinged around in the box and the visitors probed for a second goal. The chances dwindled briefly, but the visitors continued to press with aggression, forcing another flurry of attempts that kept the home defense busy and the crowd on edge.
Midway through the period, bad luck struck the visitors as a high-quality cross found the post and stayed out. Despite their pressure, Águilas could not extend the lead, and Eldense found renewed belief. The momentum swung as Romero anchored the defense andNdiguez, in a series of clever touches, helped pull the team forward, keeping the locals hopeful. Julen then created a moment of danger against the run of play, and Ñiguez burst through to clear the danger and deny a golden chance for Águilas from close range, keeping the scoreline tight and the atmosphere electric.
In the later stages, Eldense pressed again with renewed purpose. Nacho tried to break free on the flank, but Águilas defended stoutly, using compact lines to frustrate the hosts. The visitors looked to seal the match, while Eldense searched for a late lifeline to lift the home crowd and reignite their promotion push. With each attack, the intensity rose, and the match entered a critical phase as time wore on.
In the final period, Águilas hit back with another push through the middle. A crucial moment saw Munir storming into the box and delivering a powerful strike that caught Andrada off guard. The shot thundered into the net, doubling the visitor’s advantage and placing Eldense under mounting pressure as the clock ticked down. The game swung into a sudden and difficult moment for the hosts as a second yellow card to Damiá Sabaté left Eldense one man short during the closing stretch.
Even as the clock slipped away, the locals kept faith with their team, refusing to surrender their promotion dreams. The whistle finally blew after six additional minutes, and the result left Eldense lamenting what might have been, while Águilas took a hard-earned win that reinforced their own mood for the fight up the standings. In the aftermath, Eldense’s players reflected on the narrow gap between success and frustration, knowing that a single moment could have shifted the balance in a game that offered as much intensity as it did drama.
Across the stands, the atmosphere told the story. The nearly thousand supporters who filled New Pepico Amat witnessed a clash that lived up to expectations, with both teams showing grit, organization, and moments of quality that kept the spectators engaged from first whistle to final decision.
DATA SHEET
ELDENSE (0): Luismi, Andrada, Capó, Pajarero, Pablo, Redru, Eliseo, Luque, Damiá, Fabrizio and Nacho Ramón.
ÁGUILAS (1): Iván Buigues, Javi Perez, Pedro Inglés, Arcas, Juanma, Mounir, Óscar Castro, Quim Araujo, Junior, Víctor Fenoll and Rober.
GOAL: 0-1, minute 84. A late moonshot of a strike decided the points.
ÁRBITRO: Moreno Osuna (Manchego committee of Castile). Yellow cards: Fabricio (local). Red: Damiá Sabaté (Eldense) on a second booking in the 86th minute.
ESTADIO: New Pepico Amat. About a thousand spectators in attendance.