Estévez, Eldense coach: “Tenerife are clear contenders for promotion”
From the opening minutes, Eldense shifted four players compared to the prior match at El Molinón: Marc Mateu came in for Dumic and Poloni replaced Piña in the defense, Andone took Clemente’s place, and Juanto stepped into Cris Montes’ midfield. The plan was visible early as the home side looked for balance and renewed energy, while Tenerife maintained control and sought to impose tempo.
In the first 20 minutes the game moved slowly, with Eldense failing to ignite the intensity typical of their home turf, allowing Tenerife to seize the initiative. Roberto López, the islanders’ dynamic left winger, tested Zubiaurre’s goal early, signaling Tenerife’s intent to press with purpose. Eldense answered with sharper ball movement, yet meaningful threat remained scarce. Ivan Chapel anchored the left flank, delivering the majority of the visitors’ attacking thrust from that channel.
As the half progressed, Deportivo moments grew more tangible for Eldense, though they could not convert. Estévez’s side pressed higher and narrowed spaces, but the key chances eluded them. In the 44th minute, Eldense argued for a penalty following a foul on their striker, Soberón, but the referee waved play on, ending a half shaped by contested decisions and stubborn zones of control for both teams.
Discussion for 0-1
Immediately after the whistle, Tenerife’s momentum appeared to rise. A surge that began near an offside position evolved into a penalty after a challenge by Carlos Hernández, awarded to the visitors. Ángel Rodríguez converted, proving a pivotal moment as the first half concluded with Eldense still looking for a spark to break through Tenerife’s organized defense.
Referee Moreno Aragón, who added twelve minutes to the opening period, confirmed the decision after a VAR review. Ángel Rodríguez’s finish gave Tenerife a 0-1 lead at halftime. Eldense left the field with the sense that a single lapse had defined the scoreline, even as momentum swayed in bursts toward the opposition’s direction.
The second half began with Eldense intent on equalizing. Four minutes after the restart, Andone headed a cross narrowly wide, signaling the visitors’ vulnerability on set pieces and the home team’s persistence in search of a response. The same sequence saw a contested moment as the referee continued a permissive approach to late challenges, allowing play to flow while visitors pressed high.
Dumic then forced a save from the Tenerife goalkeeper on a half-clear chance inside the box, and a separate dispute saw Dumic appealing for a penalty after a physical challenge. The game’s rhythm suggested a shift could still occur, but the next goal arrived for the visitors when a long ball found Roberto López, whose shot beat Zubiaurre and extended Tenerife’s advantage.
Sentence at the time of mourning
The mood darkened quickly for Eldense as Roberto López struck again, powering a shot that slipped past the keeper and into the net, pushing the score to 0-2. The visitors managed the situation with composure, while Eldense continued to push forward in search of a late consolation, but their efforts did not reach the required height to threaten the scoreboard.
Eldense faltered again in defense
Soberón looked to close the gap from close range, and the introduction of Salcedo, Bernal, and Arnau Ortiz injected greater energy into Eldense’s attacking phase. Yet Tenerife’s defense remained compact, stifling clear-cut opportunities as Eldense sought to recalibrate their approach.
With the home side exposed at the back, Tenerife capped the night with a third goal from Teto, a precise strike that cemented the match at 0-3. The ball found the net beyond Zubiaurre’s reach, and the keeper’s late scramble could not prevent the goal from standing. The result felt like a final sentence for Eldense, who failed to conjure a jeopardy moment that could alter the result.
Despite the ease of the visitors’ victory, the crowd’s spirit remained resilient, and many Tenerife supporters celebrated at Nuevo Pepico Amat while Eldense’s loyal fans stayed behind, calling for perseverance in the face of the night’s disappointment.
Ultimately, Eldense suffered a defeat that will linger in memory as one of the season’s tougher shows. Recovery comes quickly, as Estévez’s team was set to visit Málaga in the Copa del Rey, a chance to respond to the setback on a new stage.
MATCH COMMITTEE
Eldense: Zubiaurre, Toni Abad, Carlos Hernández, Dumic (Álex Bernal min. 75), Marc Mateu, Jesús Clemente (Arnau Ortiz min. 64), Sergio Ortuño, Timor, Iván Chapela (Joel Jorquera min. 82), Andone (Salcedo min. 75), Soberón (Juanto min. 82).
Tenerife: Juan Soriano, Aitor Buñuel (Jesús min. 90), Amo, Šipčić, Nacho, Elady, Aitor Sanz (Alassan min. 85), Alexandre, Luismi Cruz (Teto min. 45), Roberto López (Sergio González min. 90), Ángel Rodríguez (Bodiger at least 85).
Goals: 0-1 Ángel Rodríguez (min. 45), 0-2 Roberto López (min. 61), 0-3 Teto (min. 81)
Referee: Moreno Aragon (Madrid Committee). He issued yellow cards to Eldense’s Sergio Ortuño and Tenerife’s Aitor Sanz.
Events: The match, played on the 18th day of the Hypermotion League (Second League), attracted 3,950 spectators at the Nuevo Pepico Amat Stadium.