La Nucía pressed from the start, looking to seize the initiative and push themselves back toward the top of the table after Intercity’s stumble in Socuéllamos. The visitors, a disciplined side, resisted early pressure but could not escape a tense rhythm that defined the match. A moment of drama arrived late in the game when the defining event seemed to vanish into the final whistle, only to be overturned by a late intervention that changed the mood on the field.
The contest proved fiercely contested, with Jinenes’s squad challenging every ball and forcing their hosts to fight for every inch of ground. An opportunity slipped away when a penalty was saved or missed, a turning point that amplified the drama as stoppage time stretched on and Jerky protests erupted from both teams. The clash prompted a scuffle involving players and coaches, with the Civil Guards stepping in to restore order and protect the match officials.
At the final whistle, a tense scene unfolded as players and technicians from both sides argued on the sidelines. The moment found its place in the memory of the match as a reminder of how fragile momentum can be in the closing minutes.
La Nucía began with intensity, attacking with purpose and creating chances. A well-worked move started nine minutes in, with a low driven shot driving toward the corner of the net. The ball found the back of the net, only for the referee to chalk it off for offside, denying what looked like a deserved opener.
César Ferrando’s team continued to push forward, seeking another opportunity. Ruben Saiz tested the frame of the goal, the ball striking the post and skimming away, while Fofo’s follow-up shot missed the target by a fraction.
Before the end of the first half, Fer Pina had a pair of chances in quick succession, as did Ruben Saiz, who looked to breach the visiting defense. Their endeavours culminated in a goal for their opponents, a moment that shifted the balance and increased the tension in the stadium.
The true Mancha Real sat compact and resilient, resisting with discipline but failing to threaten much in the opening period. A second caution for Dasquet, the second yellow card, sent him off, narrowing the visitors’ options. Javier Heads then had another opportunities that tested the defense, but the half closed with the scoreboard showing a goalless deadlock. It felt like an unwarranted reward for César Ferrando’s men, who deserved more for their efforts.
In the second half, the La Nucía coach, Miñano, reshaped the approach, trying to inject more balance and creativity into the center of the pitch. The tactic paid off as Álex Salto found the net in the 48th minute, opening the scoring for the home side and giving them a lead that reflected their siege on the ball and the goalmouth activity surrounding them.
With numerical superiority, Mancha Real responded quickly and pressed higher up the field, pushing for an equalizer. Álvaro earned a penalty and converted, reigniting the contest and lifting the visitors’ belief that the result could be altered in the closing stages. Valens anticipated the kick and made a crucial save, but the rebound found its way to the back of the net, restoring parity and widening the window of opportunity for the visitors.
Jaén’s team then began to control the tempo, gradually advancing and testing the home rear guard. The match paused repeatedly for interruptions as the referee added time to compensate for stoppages, heightening the sense of a dramatic finish. La Nucía, defending resolutely, weathered the pressure and clung to their slight advantage as the clock moved into the final minutes. The visitors even saw opportunities to overturn the result, with close calls and near-misses that promised a changing tide.
With the end of regular time approaching, Mancha Real pressed relentlessly and finally created another chance, a moment that could have turned the match on its head. Yet the finishing touch eluded them, and the crucial moment came in dramatic fashion as the clock reached 99 minutes. A long shot from Miguel Montes found the target, equalizing the match and shattering La Nucía’s hopes of a late winner.
The stadium fell quiet, then erupted into mixed celebrations and disappointment as the draw became the final result. La Nucía had created enough chances to hint at a more comfortable outcome, but their inability to finish several clear opportunities—and the late leveller—left them with a point that felt earned yet unsatisfying.
DATA SHEET:
NUCÍA: Valens, Romera, Moisés, Alex Salto (Javi Martín, m.59), Álvaro, Dasquet, Fer Pina (Borja, m.93), Cabezas, Fofo, Ruben Saiz (Miñano, m.46) and Mariano Sanz (Marc Más, m.93).
ROYAL SPOT ATHLETIC: Lopito, Villarejo (Miguel Montes, m.77), Falo, Pedro Corral (Urko Arroyo, m.46), Espinosa, José Enrique, Edu Viaña, Mauro, Juanca, Rafa Vega and Carlos Jiménez.
SCORERS: 1-0, 48, Alex Salto. 1-1, 99, Miguel Montes.
REFEREE: González Paez. Cards: Dasquet (La Nucía) – yellow, 39; Mauro and Carlos Jiménez (Mancha Real) – yellow; Dasquet (La Nucía) – red, 39.
STADIUM: Olimpic Camilo Cano, in front of nearly 400 spectators.