Merit in adversity

Some decisions change the course of a game. Today was one of those days. A handball by Jon Martín, on a ball that nobody knows where it was going, turned a match that was firmly under control at 0-2 into a nervy ordeal. Elche drew level, but Sučić had the final word in the 90th minute to deliver a victory as deserved as it was a relief, given everything that unfolded.

The opening stages were promising. Inside ten minutes, from a corner, Ochieng met a loose ball inside the area and hammered it home unstoppably to give Real Sociedad the lead. Elche tried to stretch and threaten but barely called Marrero into action. Just past the half-hour, taking advantage of a moment of indecision in the home defence, Herrera made it 0-2 with a finish from an Ochieng pass.

The second half was largely uneventful until an isolated incident ended with a very harsh straight red card for Jon Martín that gave the home side a lifeline. Lemar pulled one back and breathed new life into Elche. Real Sociedad struggled to hold the ball with ten men and, in a fortunate piece of play, Fer Niño levelled things up with fifteen minutes to go. The final stretch was uncomfortable. The hosts monopolised possession and had chances to win it. But Matarazzo's side showed real grit, and when things looked bleakest, Sučić drove forward and struck to make it 2-3, a goal that secured a thoroughly merited victory.

A first away win of the season that reaffirms the txuri urdin are on the right path. A game that, fortunately, did not slip away. Three very sweet points.

Match details

Elche CF: Dituro, Morente, Sangaré (Revivo, 80'), Víctor Chust, Bigas (cap.), Valera (Josan, 80'), Morcillo, Villa (Cepeda, 70'), Buonanotte (Lemar, 55'), Ponce (Osorio, 55'), Fer Niño.

Real Sociedad: Marrero, Aramburu, Zubeldia, Sarr (Jon Martín, 58'), Sergio Gómez, Herrera (Pacheco, 70'), Soler, Sučić, Ochieng, Guedes (Marchal, 58') (Fort, 81'), Oyarzabal (cap.) (Gorrotxa, 70').

Goals: 0-1 Ochieng (10'); 0-2 Herrera (32'); 1-2 Lemar (62'); 2-2 Fer Niño (74'); 2-3 Sučić (90').

Referee: Ortiz Arias. Bookings: Morente, Fer Niño, Valera, Lemar (Elche); Aramburu (Real Sociedad). Red card: Jon Martín (64').