Hercules Seize a Dramatic Victory on the Road
Winning fuels momentum and lifts the mood. This match brought a boost in morale after a six-year wait to achieve a result in this field. The team demonstrated patience, disciplined ball movement, and a fierce will to win, even when the game opened unfavorably. An unprecedented offensive display on natural grass helped erase lingering doubts about a difficult life beyond the hard-fought league battles. The squad pressed relentlessly, turning adversity into a decisive resurgence as the clock wore on.
Hercules clinched their seventh win of the season, a victory that offered Europa a moment of calm after a troubling stretch. It was a turning point that set the tone for an early autumn period, with the team stepping into a position of responsibility and control as the season advanced toward the next milestone.
Beyond today’s result at the Camp d’Esports, Rubén Torrecilla’s squad showed resilience—refusing to linger in the shadows of past hardships. The team avoided tipping into frustration and kept the focus on the present, treating each moment as a chance to prove themselves rather than reliving old defeats. The approach reflected a clear intent: to act decisively, not to let the past dictate the tempo of the season.
The coach reshaped the starting lineup, initiating four changes in the first XI. The defensive line was adjusted for the first time, Josema was withdrawn, and Rayan Nolan was brought in. The double pivot that had struggled in recent weeks was dismantled, granting Colominas the responsibility to balance the middle of the field. Artiles and De la Nava formed a 4-3-3 to contain high pressure and shift into a 4-5-1 when needed to dominate the midfield, forcing Mestalla to defend more than attack. The tactical shift aimed to control the game and tilt the balance in Hercules’ favor.
In the opening Valencian possession, a throw-in and a minor error allowed Miguel Ángel Angulo’s block to reach Candelas’ back, delivering a long, precise strike with a sudden bend. Striker Marco Camus finished with a diagonal shot for his fifth of the campaign as Carlos Abad could do nothing: 1-0.
Exactly ten minutes later, Hercules found themselves behind again in Paterna. The Alicante side carried the weight of a troubling memory from a recent trip to Barcelona, a sour moment that could have haunted the fans. But the team did not yield to foreboding; instead they focused on the task and pressed on, refusing to let old omens dictate the night.
That persistence paid off. The equaliser arrived after a sustained period of pressure. Mendes had a warning shot saved by the keeper; Nico Espinosa tested the crossbar with a nervy effort; and Candelas delivered a dangerous ball to Ketu, who missed by a whisker. The move continued as Artiles found Juanmi, whose shot bent perfectly and found the back of the net just before the break: 1-1.
What followed at halftime remained a blueprint for Hercules: reject complacency. The team returned with renewed resolve in the second half. De la Nava and Artiles tightened the middle, while Colomina’s gaps were closed and Nico Espinosa reconnected with teammates in the pursuit of a decisive victory. The defense held firm as the midfield dictated tempo and created opportunities with intelligent movement.
As the clock moved forward, Nil Ruiz found space in a corridor and sent a precise ball toward the goal. The breakthrough came with a blend of technique and resolve about half an hour from the end. Roger Colominas won duel after duel, winning the ball and feeding De la Nava, who found space inside the area for a composed finish. The finish—soft, accurate, and timely—found the net to give Hercules a 1-2 lead with 25 minutes left on the clock. The result reinforced a growing belief in a sustainable and balanced playing model, capable of delivering steady progress amid inevitable ups and downs.
In the final phases, Hercules pressed to seal the win, maintaining control and converting opportunities into points. The disciplined performance illustrated the squad’s confidence and willingness to push through tough moments to claim success on a difficult ground. The result added another chapter to a season that blends resilience, tactical adaptability, and a stubborn insistence on results.
TOKEN
► VCF MESTALLA (1): Nil Ruiz Alemán, Ali Fadal, Iranzo, Muñoz, Córdoba, Diego Moreno; Marco Camus, Javi Navarro, Yellu; Martín Tejón, Santana, Mario. Substitutes: (Azael, 77′), (Joselu, 77′), etc.
► HERCULES CF (2): Carlos Abad; Samu Vázquez, Nolan, Juanmi, Candelas; Ketu, Roger, Artiles, Nico Espinosa, De la Nava, Mendes. Substitutes: (Diego Lorenzo, 85′), (Alvarito, 71′), etc.
► GOALS: 1-0, 10′: Camus. 1-1, 42′: Juanmi. 1-2, 67′: De la Nava.
► JUDGE: Clemente Ortuño. Yellow cards: Camus, Nico Espinosa, Javi Navarro, Mario, Candelas. Stadium: Antonio Puchades (Paterna). Attendance: around one thousand, with roughly two hundred Hercules supporters in the stands.