ELCHE WIN AT LAST!

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Celta Vigo 0 Elche 1
Perhaps, after all there is a footballing God up there who at the weekend put right what went wrong during the week.

After Elche being cruelly denied a thoroughly deserved draw against mighty-but-lucky Real Madrid on Wednesday, aided by a terrible referee, firstly the maestros from Madrid got theirs from nasty neighbours Athletico losing 1 – 0 in the Capital derby to slip to a poor third, while bruised Elche licked their wounds and went to the Balaidos stadium to play Celta Vigo.

The Illicitanos happily came away with their first win of the season, courtesy of a Javi Marquez goal on the hour following an excellent team move, the final pass supplied by Carles Gil. Elche are protesting officially about the Real penalty incident, but this was not received until it was too late for key midfielder Carlos Sanchez to be able to play, Javi Marquez ably deputising by scoring the winner.

Albacar was substituted by Cisma for the ex- Seville player’s first run out early in the second half, fifteen minutes from time Wednesday’s goalscorer Richmond Boakye came on for Manu del Moral, and lastly Mantecon came on for Carles Gil. Fidel, Coro and Botia were all booked for Elche.
For years (24) Elche supporters have been wishing away to get back into the big time where they used to be, and entertain such illustrious visitors as Barcelona – and Real Madrid.

With Elche’s form not good as they struggle to integrate the new players necessary to survive into the team, and Real Madrid as usual up close to the top of La Liga it was always going to be an especially big night in the City of Palms, an almost full-to-capacity Martinez Valero rocking as the teams took the field.

After an early Christian Ronaldo effort skimmed the post Elche began to settle and from an Albacar free kick big central defender David Lomban’s header was pushed to safety.

By half-time with the score goalless it became apparent that unless the Galacticos suddenly turned it on the second half there seemed to be little to fear. Ten minutes gone and the referee Muniz blew for nothing more than a nudge on Ronaldo, but from the free kick, arguably the world’s greatest footballer himself bent the ball low inside Elche’s post to put the visitors one up, albeit one-sidedly given all Elche’s efforts.

The Franjiverdes did not give up and carried on with several near misses as the match moved into injury time. Goalkeeper Manu launched a howitzer goal-kick wide to the left wing where Fidel nodded it on: left back Albacar roared onto it, crossed it first time and there, unbelievably was Elche’s new striker Boakye to get his head to it and power it into the net to scenes of wild home jubilation at justice at last being done. Excessive time was added on, and Senor Muniz wasn’t finished.

As a last despairing Real corner was cleared he unbelievably blew for a foul and to everyone in green and white’s abject despair pointed to the penalty spot. After massive protests and more Elche bookings (seven in all) up stepped Ronaldo again to slot it home and break home hearts. Yes, of course, that’s football but many neutrals saw it all and senor Muniz is in trouble, charged with favouring the superstars. It’s not finished yet…

Sunday evening’s win takes Elche up to 15th place, and gives everyone at the Martinez Valero great heart for next weekend’s home clash with Espanol at 4pm on Saturday.

Mucho Elche!

PHOTOS KEVIN RENDALL

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/40814/

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