A decisive strike from Hugo Vallejo earned Ponferradina a 1-0 victory over Deportivo Alavés.
After a winless run since early January, Ponferradina finally sealed three points, lifting the mood in Toralín and fueling hopes of a late-season push. The clash featured a tightly contested opening that kept the crowd on edge as both sides chased a result that could alter their trajectories in the Segunda Division.
Event details of Ponferradina vs. Alavés in the Segunda Division are clear. The home side approached the match with intent from the opening whistle, willing to engage rather than sit back. They faced a club from the capital with promotion ambitions, which only heightened the significance of every moment in the game.
The first half unfolded as a balanced battle. Neither team enjoyed a sustained advantage, but each lugged forward with purpose, creating sporadic chances and testing the defense. It was a game of inches, where defensive blocks and goalkeepers held the line and kept the score level as the minutes ticked by.
In the second half, Alavés intensified their efforts, pushing higher up the pitch and hammering at Ponferradina’s defenses. The clearest openings went to Miguel for the away side, and the flow of the match tilted with momentum on their side. Yet the hosts remained compact, absorbing pressure and countering when possible, a pattern that persisted despite the visitors’ continued attempts to swing the game in their favor.
Everything changed in the 66th minute when Vallejo timed his run perfectly, rising to meet a corner kick and firing home. The crowd erupted as Ponferradina found a crucial lead, triggering a wave of attacking intent from Alavés as they searched for an equalizer. The action resembled a frantic sprint toward a dramatic end, with chances arriving in quick succession for both teams and goalkeepers again playing pivotal roles.
Throughout the late stages, the match swung on small margins. An impressive save from Sivera in the 84th minute preserved Ponferradina’s slender advantage, followed by a sequence of near-misses that kept the tension high. By the time the game reached its conclusion, Ponferradina had held firm, securing the three points and leaving Alavés disappointed at not taking something from the encounter.
The atmosphere in Toralín reflected a sense of renewal among the home supporters, who now dare to believe in a potential rescue campaign. Alavés, meanwhile, left with a setback that tempered their promotion bid and underscored the challenges that lie ahead in the pursuit of top-flight status.
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Summary of Ponferradina vs. Alavés Second Division 2022-2023: video, goals and statistics
The full-time sound in Ponferrada was 1-0 in favor of Ponferradina. The clock read 90 minutes with four minutes of stoppage time appended.
Minute 84 produced a spectacular save by Sivera, denying Yuri after a rebound from Naranjo forced the Alavés goalkeeper into a key stop.
Minute 83 saw a shot deflected by Villalibre that brushed past the post, keeping the tension high.
Minute 80 brought a strong save from Amir on a strike by Guridi following a layoff from Rioja.
Minute 74 offered Alavés a moment of danger when Toni Moya unleashed a shot that Espiau diverted for a corner.
Minute 71 saw Espiau set up Vallejo for a long-range run, but Duarte tracked back to cut out the shot and clear for a corner.
Minute 68 featured a second Ponferradina opportunity as Derik rolled a ball through for a finish that Sivera stopped convincingly.
Minute 66 delivered the goal. Vallejo converted from a corner and the home crowd roared as Ponferradina took the lead.
Minute 60 included a dangerous free kick from Nwakali that struck the wall and spared the hosts a potential danger.
Minute 54 saw Duarte reach the byline, his cross setting up Miguel whose shot was saved by Amir and deflected away, preventing a direct scoring chance for Alavés.
Minutes 50 and 46 highlighted the end-to-end nature of the match, with Duarte tracking back to avert threats and Alavés attempting to exploit wide areas to pierce the defense.
As the first half wound down, Ponferradina remained brave, keeping the contest tight and refusing to concede control. The rest in Ponferrada confirmed a very even opening period, with both teams showing resilience and intent.
Two minutes of added time were announced in El Toralín, a nod to the effort and rigor from both sides throughout the 90 minutes.
Earlier moments included Nwakali testing the wall and Sedlar finding space for a cross that prompted early defensive attention from Ponferradina.
The match began with an ambitious and fearless approach from Ponferradina, and the starting XI for the visitors was announced as the teams took the field in El Toralín.
With these results, Ponferradina will welcome Alavés to their home stadium, aiming to build on this vital win as the season progresses.
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Source: Goal