Elche secured a vital 2-1 comeback victory over Mallorca at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with Tete Morente netting the decisive goal in a dramatic La Liga clash.
This fixture pitted two relegation-threatened sides against each other. Elche, positioned 18th, faced 16th-placed Mallorca, with just two points separating them. Both teams desperately sought points to improve their survival chances.
The first half saw a cautious approach from both teams. Mallorca held a slight edge in possession, but clear-cut chances were few. The midfield battle dominated much of the play.
Elche's defender Víctor Chust received the game's first yellow card in the 29th minute for a challenge. This reflected the physical nature of the contest.
Neither side could find a breakthrough before the halftime whistle. The deadlock promised a tense and potentially explosive second half.
After the interval, the game sprung to life with a flurry of action. Both managers likely urged their teams to push forward with greater intent.
Mallorca drew first blood in the 58th minute. Pablo Torre, assisted by Zito Luvumbo, fired a precise shot into the net. This silenced the home crowd and put Mallorca ahead.
Elche responded almost immediately, demonstrating resilience. Just four minutes later, Rafa Mir found the equalizer in the 62nd minute. His goal ignited the home support, leveling the score at 1-1.
The momentum clearly shifted in Elche's favor. The comeback was completed in the 71st minute when Tete Morente scored. Germán Valera delivered a crucial assist, putting Elche 2-1 up.
Mallorca mounted a desperate search for another equalizer as the match entered its closing stages. Drama intensified when Vedat Muriqi missed a penalty in the 90+2nd minute, squandering a golden chance.
Elche finished the game with 47% possession, generating an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.56 from 13 total shots. Mallorca held 53% possession, with an xG of 1.47 from 11 shots. Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro made three key saves to preserve the lead.
This hard-fought 2-1 victory moves Elche out of the relegation zone, at least for now. The result significantly impacts the La Liga survival race, leaving Mallorca under increased pressure heading into the next round of fixtures.
