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REVIEW: ELCHE 3 – DEPORTIVO 2 (LIGA)
21 Nov 2011
New defeat for a Deportivo that deserved more despite its countless errors at defense; Oltra risked with his changes and the work of the referee was also a factor that had an impact in the final result.
BEFORE THE MATCH
Big surprise at Deportivo’ starting lineup as Juan Carlos Valerón was on the bench; instead Oltra was presenting a 4-2-3-1 figure, but with three wingers playing behind Lassad. Mexican Andrés Guardado was performing as the playmaker in the formation.
Aranzubia was at the goal; Laure covered the right-back position; Ayoze Diaz performed on the left, while the central defenders were Colotto and Aythami. Álex and Juan Dominguez were the two pivotes, Saul attacked from the right wing, Salomão did it on the left, Guardado was the playmaker and Lassad was the central attacker.
At Elche, coach José Bordalás was presenting the expected 4-4-2 figure, with the only novelty of Javier Carpio claiming the spot of Etxeita at the centre of the defense. Ángel Rodriguez and Danish Nicki Niels Bille were the two references up front.
FIRST HALF
Again Deportivo paid the price for its mismatches at defense as it allowed two consecutive goals after having a pleasant start in the game; it affected the mentality of a team that barely gave problems to a rival that neither deserved such advantage.
It was a solid start for the visitors, Deportivo was looking pretty active, but within the first ten minutes the only opportunity to score was a cross of Guardado coming from the right that Lassad missed at the penalty spot. Meanwhile, Elche was just arriving through long throws that didn’t give any problem to Aranzubia
The next chance for Depor came at minute 13, it was a direct free-kick after a foul over Salomão; the shot of Guardado was searching for the top right-corner of local keeper Juan Carlos Sánchez, who made the save. In the resulting corner-kick Lassad scored a goal from close range, but it was disallowed due to a previous foul of Aythami.
Things were pretty calmed for the visitors… until Elche scored the first goal; it was a quick counterattack in which Nicki Bille assisted Ángel, who scored a great goal from close range. And the second shocker just lasted three minutes as Jose Luis Acciari headed the ball inside the area after an inexistent corner-kick for Elche, to mention that the goal could have been disallowed –as the previous goal of Depor as the Argentine midfielder pushed Álex before heading the ball-
Depor’s was in shock as it had things under control and now was losing by two goals; the Galicians reached the opposite area until minute 30 as a cross of Guardado was sent wide by Lassad. The visitors were having the ball possession, but at the same time they were missing fresh ideas against a rival that was feeling pretty comfortable on the pitch unleashing dangerous counterattacks, like the one of Xumetra in which nobody was at the box to push the ball in (38’).
The visitors pushed within the last five minutes, and the last opportunity in the half was for Depor; Saul threw a corner-kick on the left and Aythami headed the ball at the box, but his attempt went slightly over the crossbar.
SECOND HALF
Deportivo reacted in the final part and scored two goals that were giving a deserved result, but a new mistake at defense cost a new goal; again it affected the morale of Oltra’s men and the Galicians pushed strongly until the final minutes; at that point referee Antonio Mariscal Sánchez showed up as he didn´t whistle a clear penalty and later canceled a late equalizer, though it’s fair to say that Deportivo lost as still can’t clear its own ghosts at defense.|
Oltra ordered the first change in the match as Bruno Gama claimed the spot of Saul Fernandez at the right wing. It was a good modification as he brought more clarity and depth, The Portuguese had the first chance in the half after Salomão missed to shot from the edge of the area, but Flaño cleared the danger (47’).
Tree minutes later Deportivo had a double opportunity, first Bruno Gama released a shot from the right corner of the area, Juan Carlos couldn’t clear the danger, and the dead-ball was found by Juan Dominguez, who headed it at the six-yard-box, it turned into a volley that hit the right post and that was later cleared by the defense.
But Depor found the goal quite soon; Álex Bergantiños had the ball at midfield, then he drilled it into the edge of the area, Juan Dominguez was there and after a little pause he assisted Andres Guardado, who released a drilling shot that went in by the bottom left-corner of Juan Carlos.
Oltra was decided to search for the equalizer and he ordered the second modification as Valerón entered for Colotto; the change switched the scheme into a 3-2-4-1, Aythami was the lonely central defender, Valerón was playing beyond Álex and Juan Dominguez,while Guardado was moving between both wings to join the moves of Bruno Gama and Salomão.
And the equalizer came soon after Guardado attempted a shot that hit a rival and went into the path of Lassad, who scored the goal from close range. But the joy only lasted three minutes as Elche scored its third goal after a new collective error of the whole Depor’s team.
Aythami was trying to release a quick attack, but instead his pass was intercepted at midfield by Acciari, who drilled the ball into the left wing, Ángel collected the pass and eluded the whole defensive line, then Jordi Xumetra met the ball at the centre to elude Aranzubia and score the goal from the six-yard box.
Again Depor was in shock and lasted almost twenty minutes to reach the opposite area, while Elche was wasting time in any possible way. The visitors started to push strongly until the final five minutes and the true is that they, despite the big errors at defense, deserved the equalizer. The final change for Depor was the entry of Bodipo for Salomão, which turned the draw into a 3-5-2.
At minute 84, a cross of Laure was sent out by Lassad, two minutes later Guardado threw a direct-corner kick that he sent over the crossbar. The best came during the stoppage time, first Depor threw a corner-kick in which Aranzubia connected the ball at the area, it hit the hand of Pelegrín, but referee Mariscal Sánchez didn’t whistle anything, and in the last play Bruno Gama scored a goal that was disallowed for an offside of Aythami.
AFTER THE GAME
Fifth defeat on the season, the fourth playing away from the Riazor; and again caused by the big errors at defense as Elche scored its three goals after just completing three shots on target. Oltra still missing to find the needed stability as the punch in attack is quickly cancelled by the softness at defense.
The true is that Depor deserved more in this game as it tried and , without been an excuse, referee Mariscal Sánchez influenced the result with his decisions as he didn’t measure both teams in the same way; he disallowed two goals to Depor –fair calls- but should have done the same with Elche’s second goal, while he didn’t want to see a clear penalty for Depor during the stoppage time.
This results pulls down Depor from the promotion zone as Elche is now part of the six top positions; though Oltra’s men are only separated from the promotion zone by the goal difference. On Friday, Deportivo returns to the Riazor in order to face UD Almeria (21h00 CET).
MATCH STATISTICS
Elche: (4-4-2) Juan Carlos - Flaño, Etxeita, Pelegrín, Beranger -, Xumetra, Mantecón, Acciari, Palanca (Perico 60’) - Nicki Bille (Luque 56’), Ángel (Linares 81’).
Deportivo: (4-2-3-1) Aranzubia - Laure, Colotto (Valerón 63’), Aythami, Ayoze - Juan Domínguez, Álex Bergantiños – Saúl (Bruno Gama 46’), Guardado, Salomão (Bodipo 77’) - Lassad.
Goals: 1-0: (17’) Ángel, 2-0: (20’) Acciari, 2-1: (57’) Guardado, 2-2: (64’) Lassad, 3-2: (67’) Xumetra
Referee: Antonio Mariscal Sánchez. He showed yellow card to Laure (47’), Bruno Gama (54’), Juan Domínguez (60’), Aythami (76’). Juan Carlos, Flaño, Beranger, Carpio and Acciari.
Venue: Manuel Martinez Valero stadium (7,368)
Other statistics: Ball possession (34% - 66%); Attempts to score (4 – 10); Total shots (9 - 21); Shots on target (3 - 10); Saves by the keepers (5 - 0); Corner-kicks (6 - 7); Offsides (8 - 2); Fouls committed (23 - 17); Accuracy in the passes (66.41% - 82.38%)
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