Opportunity slipped away for Orihuela in a tense clash against Marbella, a match that underscored the volatility of the early league phase. After securing their first win of the campaign, the Oriolanos traveled to Malaga with optimism, aiming to capitalize against Marbella, a team that was right in the fight for top spot. The visitors began with intent, and it didn’t take long for Lejarraga to open the scoring, sending a message that Orihuela had come to disrupt Marbella’s rhythm. Marbella pushed back, testing Aitor Arias with a series of quick transitions and sharp strikes, and the home side, anchored by a resolute goalkeeper, held firm through those early moments. The goal from Orihuela came from a well-timed run and a precise finish, with the assist coming from Revilla and Juanmi Callejón making a smart diagonal move to anticipate the pass and unlock the defense. It was a moment that showcased Orihuela’s determination to assert themselves on the road and set the tone for the rest of the half.
The interval led to a clear message: Orihuela would not retreat. Sánchez’s squad carried the momentum into the second period, pressing high and looking to extend their lead. Just seven minutes after the restart, the visitors added a second goal, a clinical finish that built confidence in Orihuela’s attack and further unsettled Marbella’s plans. The crowd in Alicante felt the shift as their team seemed more comfortable controlling the tempo, pressing with discipline and showing poise in the final third. Marbella, meanwhile, found themselves under sustained pressure as Orihuela reduced space and forced errors on the ball. In those moments, the Orihuela defense stayed compact, denying Marbella clear routes to goal and keeping the match on a knife edge as the clock ticked on. The half bore witness to a fierce exchange; Marbella’s best opportunities came from quick counters, while Orihuela remained intent on closing out the game with concise, purposeful play around the box.
As the game wore on, Marbella intensified their pursuit and finally broke through with a late answer. Midway through the final period, Ohemeng delivered into the box, and Aitor found the back of the net, pulling Marbella back into contention and injecting life into a city-wide battle for supremacy. The visitors would not stop there; seven minutes later, Olguin completed a well-timed run and slid the ball past Aitor, restoring parity and setting the stage for a tense finish. With the final whistle approaching, Orihuela pushed to reclaim the advantage, but the Marbella defense held steady, and a flurry of late efforts failed to translate into a second decisive goal. The end result reflected a hard-fought draw that left Orihuela with a bittersweet feeling: the team had shown resilience, but the opportunity to seize the lead and secure victory had slipped away in the closing stages, leaving both sides with a sense of both reward and unfinished business.