A YELLOW AND RED DAY!

Sport » Soccer » Elche CF

John McGregor / 2010-03-21 10:39:39

ON THE SPOT - Leandro had to deal with two penalty's on his debut

Elche 2 Albacete 1 ... Predictable score, eh? Home win - eighth team beats the twenty-second? Well the final score might look mundane and half-expected but the sheer craziness of this match is not revealed by the score. Red cards, yellow cards, absurd penalties scored and missed, good goals disallowed, and a certifiable referee all contributed to a ‘you-couldn’t-make-it-up’ match at the Martinez Valero on Saturday evening in front of 8,550 wind-swept spectators.

Following last week’s odd-goal loss away to Huelva, Elche arguably fielded their best team (without El Loco Wakaso!): Marti Crespi at right back, new French full-back Ripa settling in nicely at left back, the solid-looking centre-back partnership of Samuel and Tena, defensive midfielders Acciari and Usero, attacking wide options with Saul and Juli, and Trejo linking upfront with top gun Molina all pointed to a good side. Unfortunately visitors Albacete, coached by ex-Elche man David Vidal, had not read the home script and showed a marked lack of respect for the respective league positions.

As early as the thirteenth minute the Illicitanos had a scare as a cross was missed by everyone including an unmarked Stuani, followed by another header wide two minutes later. Marti Crespi headed wide from an Elche corner, Caballero tipped an ambitious Albacete lob over just in time, and in an exciting defence-splitting move Molina’s flicked header from Juli’s first-time cross was disallowed for offside.

But suddenly on the half-hour ‘difficult’ referee Hevia Obras (translates as Hard Work) suddenly sent off Albacete’s Belencoso for a tackle on Acciari, which left the tough Argentinian hurt on the ground. Elche made the extra man count and went ahead just before half time as Usero’s fierce shot was punched out by goalkeeper Notario, but only straight to Saul lurking wide on the left. His cannonball return high inside the near post was helped in by Notario and Elche went into the interval happily, one goal and one man up. There was no hint of the drama to come!

Elche continued in the second half as they left off, Juli straightaway having his effort pushed past the post. Eight minutes later an excellent Juli-Saul move saw the ball roll agonisingly across the empty Albacete goal with no-one there. Albacete did score but we breathed again as it was disallowed for offside, but with sixty-three minutes gone, the madness really started. Crespi badly missed his covering tackle at the back, Caballero sprinted from his line to crash tackle Altobelli, only to be harshly sent off, straight red and a penalty; it certainly didn’t appear to merit that. On came reserve keeper Leandro only to pick the ball out of the net, slammed past him by Stuani..

The Illicitanos tried to steady the ship, Usero’s shot was pushed out, Juli put the rebound into the net, and it was promptly ruled offside – again!. The ball was promptly swept up to the other end where to the home crowd’s bitter objection that man Hard Work again gave another penalty, this time for Tena’s challenge: only a booking this time, but poor old Leandro had to face a second penalty in only seven mad minutes. This time however, fate stepped in as Stuani missed, Leandro had the last laugh, bless him, finger-tipping the ball onto the wrong side of the post.

Justice? Well, most of the Martinez Valero crowd thought so, but the final nail in Albacete’s coffin was yet to come. Four minutes from the end. Saul fed mighty Molina down the middle, the Alcoyano connection worked yet again as the big man held off his challenge to lay it off perfectly for Juli to crash in the winner from close in and crown a terrific individual performance.

The Illicitanos were in control for a few more long minutes before referee had his final hurrah, triumphantly holding up a red card for Albacete’s astonished Notario, for what no-one had any idea. But then before the goalkeeper could walk, Hard Work decided enough was enough, and blew for time. Fortunately the Illicitanos won and he got out of town in one piece!

Elche have had much worse opposition here this season than poor old Albacete, who would be cursing their luck all the way home. They played well, especially when down to ten men before Hard Work stepped in with his own bizarre style of entertainment. His final score read one red and four yellows for Elche v two reds and three yellows for Albacete.

With local rivals Cartagena losing (see below), and Hercules drawing, Elche move nearer the top in points, although the Franjiverdes remain in eighth place. Still, there’s still a fair way to go, thirteen more matches, and hey - this is football! As Hard Work proved on Saturday night anything can and does happen. Next week Elche go to those neighbours Cartagena in a real six-pointer, and the weekend’s results have set the match up nicely – game on!
Mucho Elche !

Photos by Mark Welton www.foto23.info