Forty-five intense minutes propelled Eldense to a second win in three weeks, marking their first triumph at the revamped Nuevo Pepico Amat after a squad refresh and the departure of two starters. Juanto Ortuno claimed his third goal in as many games, while Florin Andone opened his account for the locals, tipping the halftime balance in Eldense’s favor.
Early on, Ortuno threaded a pass to Florin Andone, with the forward driving toward goal despite being ruled offside. That slim margin kept Deportivo from opening the accounts in the Second Division after nearly six decades without a league goal in this tier.
From the opposite flank, the hosts carried momentum, yet a moment of hesitancy denied a clear 1-0 lead. The first 15 minutes belonged to the home side, who controlled the tempo as Eibar appeared cautious, pressing mainly after winning the ball. Isolations from Aketxe and Derick Poloni tested the defense, and the visiting keeper produced sharp saves.
wake up call
Estévez demanded sharper focus after a defensive lapse sparked a rapid transition and a swift push from the attackers. Juanto moved into space on the left, while Berrocal slid into a center-back position and advanced into the box. A instinctive move and a precise finish left the goalkeeper with little chance as the ball hit the net, drawing the crowd toward the pitch. Three games, three goals; the promotion narrative around Juanto remained closely tied to Eldense’s history at the new Amat. The goal just before the hydration break intensified Alicante’s frustration, as the hosts clogged the interior and left Toni Abad’s runs as the main outlet, with Andone prompting the breakthrough as a central striker in this matchup.
Abad showed intelligence in his movements, lifting the ball cleanly from the back to a decisive shot, leaving the defense with barely any time to react. The sequence culminated in a standout moment just before the 40th minute, signaling a home side rising to the occasion.
helm strokes
2-0 at the interval felt justified. Eldense maintained a clear structure, with Pineapple and Dumic narrowing gaps and Timor stabilizing the midfield. Ortuno’s vision helped preserve control through the first half, while Etxeberria searched for a way to turn the tide. The home side stayed proactive, aiming to extend the lead before the break.
At the restart, changes were made to stretch the field and blunt the visitors’ counterattacks. Corpas moved the ball forward and Poloni pounced on a rebound, earning strong responses from the home defense as the mismatch around the box was nullified by a timely stop. The match referee intervened, but play continued with a Brazilian fullback showing notable reactive ability after an earlier error.
Video arbitration provided balance, yet Eibar’s comeback was halted by late resistance from the hosts. Estevez was replaced by a youthful option to lift the team, while Juanto remained a focal point for continued pressure and resilience in the spine of the pitch.
After the second hydration break, Deportivo regrouped, adopting a tighter shape for the final stages. Marc Mateu pulled Timor back and brought in Pedro Capó to preserve the structure, while Joel Jorquera contributed from the flank to sustain momentum started by Chapela on the right.
tense result
The persistence and discipline paid off in the middle portion of the second half when a ball hammered in from the left found its way to the box and was cleared only after a moment of suspense. Guille Vallejo, on the spot, produced a crucial reflex and preserved the two-goal cushion five minutes from full time.
The next concerted push from Eldense split the defence and allowed Corpas to fire a shot as Aketxe sharpened his awareness and arrived at the center to finish with precision, leaving the Barça keeper with no chance. With the clock running down, Eldense held firm as the visitors pressed in waves, and the hosts secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
As the final whistle blew, around 4,300 home fans remained to witness Eldense’s first professional home win in six decades. The result left Eldense with six points from three games, signaling growing confidence as they pursue promotion with a solid defense and improving attacking potency. The win sent a clear message across the league: a team with ambition and a developing identity can prevail on big stages.
DATA SHEET
► Goalkeepers and lineup: Vallejo, Abad, Dumic (Lachhab 57), Piña, Poloni, Timor (Capó 83), Ortuño, Mateu, Chapela (Jorquera 83), Ortuno (Soberón 57) and Andone (Clemente 65).
► Eibar (1): Zidane, Arbilla (Corpas 46), Venancio, Berrocal (Winner 77), Sergio, Matheus, Tejero, Gutiérrez (Ríos Reina 68), Gutiérrez, Bautista (Stoichkov 46) and Soriano (Rahmani 46).
► Goals: 1-0 29 min Juanto Ortuno; 2-0 39 min Florin Andone; 2-1 88 min Aketxe.
► Officials: González Díaz (Asturias) refereed, with García Lorenzo and Novoa Hernández as assistants. Cautions: Venancio (Éibar), Gutiérrez, Aketxe, Rahmani.
► Attendance: The match, part of LaLiga Hypermotion, drew around 4,356 spectators at Nuevo Pepico Amat. The crowd sang in support during a moment of protest in the stands.
► CLASSIFICATION: Eldense sit on six points from nine, tied for sixth and fifth, ahead of Real Zaragoza at the top of the table.