Orihuela returns to victory in Murcia
From a tense start to a moment of relief, Orihuela CF steadies itself after a difficult first half. A dramatic scene at Los Arcos unfolded when they went down to ten men and had to carry De las Cuevas off the field at halftime. The fresh presence of Diego Espejo, who came on as a loan signing from Atlético de Madrid, instantly reshaped the dynamic on the field. His impact was felt in both defense and attack as the team sought to turn the match in their favor. The match’s turning point arrived in the blink of an eye, underscoring the idea that football often changes with one decisive moment. NY— SD.
Although El Palo began with purpose, controlling the local tempo through Javi López and Cevallos, Orihuela absorbed the pressure and began to respond. An early goal appeared feasible when Mendi’s shot found the back of the net, but the referee ruled it out, leaving Sergi Guilló’s players chasing balance rather than a lead. The home side wrestled with cohesion, finding themselves out of step as the visitors pressed from the midfield line forward. The contest showed the visitors could mix resilience with precision, and Orihuela gradually shifted the narrative away from defense toward offense, even as El Palo clung to a growth mindset and sought a breakthrough.
Ten minutes before the break, a costly moment arrived for the locals as Mendi collected two yellow cards, reducing Orihuela to ten men and emotionally testing the squad’s resolve. Aitor Arias also needed to be alert to deny a potential opener from Javi López, leaving the interval with a sense of unfinished business for both teams.
When the second half commenced, El Palo again controlled territory, but Orihuela’s reorganization paid off. Kamal and Mike were introduced as part of a rotation policy on Sergi Guilló’s bench, signaling a shift toward a more compact shape and quicker transitions. The plan began to bear fruit, with the visitors defending more compactly and creating space on the flanks for counterattacks.
Double from a defender
The decisive moment arrived as Diego Espejo found the net with a thunderous strike past Del Valle. Moments later, a precise cross into the box allowed Espejo to convert with a bicycle kick, sealing a 2-0 lead for Orihuela and injecting belief into the squad. The sequence showcased a defender stepping up in attack, a reminder that modern football often rewards players who can contribute at both ends of the pitch.
The visitors did not surrender as the clock ticked toward the final whistle. Javi López continued to be a threat, repeatedly testing Orihuela’s defense in the late stages and narrowing the gap in the scoreline. Despite their best efforts, the home side found themselves unable to breach the compact defense Orihuela had organized in response to the setback of going a man down. In the end, luck favored the visitors as they extended their lead and controlled the closing moments, pacing the match toward a satisfying finish for Orihuela.
MATCH COMMITTEE
ORIHUELA: Aitor Arias; Jaime Escobar, Goyo Medina (Sebas, 77′), Sergio Camacho (Kamal, 46′), Adrián Revilla, De las Cuevas (Diego Espejo, 40′), Brian Pallares (Alu, 65′), Juanmi Callejón (Fran Martínez, 77′), Marc Sirera, Luis Booker and Mendi. SD.
EL PALO: Del Valle; Romero, Lulu Rodríguez, Rafa Guerrero, Víctor Vázquez, Joao Paulo (Baka, 60′), Manu de Lama (Christian, 70′), Sierra (Juanma, 70′), Amin (Cobo, 60′), Javi López and Cevallos.
GOALS: 1-0 (67′) Diego Espejo. 2-0 (72′) Diego Espejo. 2-1 (79′) Javi López.
REFEREE: Pol Arenas Mora. He warned Booker and Diego Espejo for the locals, and Amin, Castillo and Roberto Sierra for the visitors. He sent Mendi (36′) from Orihuela.
STADIUM: Los Arcos.
By late action, Orihuela displayed a disciplined, patient approach that allowed them to withstand pressure and capitalize on moments of risk from their opponents. The win marks a notable response to an early setback and demonstrates the team’s capacity to bounce back from discipline setbacks while maintaining composure under pressure. The disciplined performance by the midfield and the decisive moment from Espejo were central to steering Orihuela toward three valuable points in a challenging away match.