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The game got off to a slow start, and after 7 minutes Tasevski was booked for the home team after a foul on Enrique in midfield. The first real shot on goal came after an Elche corner, but the tame header rolled to Armando who gathered easily. A minute later it looked like Elche were starting to find their rhythm and Nino fired just past the far post after beating the offside trap. It took only four more minutes for Elche to carve out their next chance, and it came after a cross field ball aimed at Ismael deceived Velazquez, who found himself stranded under the flight of the ball. Ismael gratefully controlled the ball and got to the byline before crossing the ball to the edge of the area, where Azkoitia struck a dipping volley which narrowly looped over Armando's crossbar. Cadiz took until the 20th minute to register a shot on target, a long ball from defence finding Sesma's run, but his half volley was unfortunately straight at Caballero. In the 38th minute good work from Ruben led to another opening for Nino, and despite the tight angle he forced a good save from Armando, who pushed the ball high and wide for a corner. The resultant kick was scrambled clear after a half chance in the six yard box. Pavoni was then booked for pulling back Ruben as Elche continued to dominate. Their superior possession paid off in the 44th minute. Neat build up play led to an opening on the left, and the cross in was superbly headed goalwards from the penalty spot by Nino. Despite Armando's best efforts, the ball found the far top corner of the net to the delight of the Elche faithful. Half time came soon after and it was difficult to see where an equaliser could come from. The second half started where the first left off, and less than a minute
after the restart Paz collided with Azkoitia on the edge of the box resulting in
a free kick to Elche, which thankfully was blasted into the wall. Ruben then
needlessly got himself book, not for his foul on Enrique but for refusing to
retreat 10 yards for the resulting freekick. As Cadiz struggled to get back in
the game they were thrown a lifeline on 58 minutes. A number of throws down the
left gained them several yards, eventually leading to a corner. Jonathan Sesma
clipped an outswinging corner into the six yard box, and after missing the first
few players Azkoitia leaned towards the ball in an attempt to deflect it away
from goal. The referee awarded a penalty for handball, although television
replays showed it may have been a generous decision. Noguerel was booked as he
led the home teams arguments, but despite the delay Paz stepped up to find the
corner of the net. Whilst the performance wasn't one of their best, it was an important point ground out at a team who will probably prove to be the toughest opponents of the run in. With Celta surprisingly going down 3-1 at Tenerife, Cadiz are now 5 points off the top spot, and it's matches such as next weeks home encounter with Valladolid rather than this testing away fixture that Cadiz will need to win to ensure promotion. |
300 Cadiz fans travelled
to the Martínez Valero Stadium to see Cadiz get a well earned point against
Elche. Starting the game 10 points off the promotion play-offs, Elche knew that
whatever slim chance they had of promotion rested on beating Cadiz, and for long
periods it looked as though they may get the 3 points. Cadiz lined up as
expected, with Velazquez declared fit to play after last weeks precautionary
stay in hospital after a nasty collision against Cordoba. Suárez returned to
centre midfield at the expense of Manolo Perez, and De La Cuesta replaced the
suspended De Quintana. 
The Cadiz players gathered to celebrate by the corner flag,
when Pavoni appeared to be hit on the shoulder by something thrown from the
crowd. Some petty arguing and pushing between the players followed, earning
Velazquez and an opponent a yellow card. It turned out to be the last
involvement for Velazquez, as he was substituted for Raul Lopez, no doubt a
precaution after last weeks head injury. Manolo Perez came on for Enrique, with
Pavoni drifting out to the right flank. Elche made changes of their own, with
Moises and Luis Gil coming on as the home side searched for a winner. With the
game struggling to flow, Fleurquin then went down with what looked like a knee
injury, and Bezares came on for him in a straight swap. Luis Gil then managed to
get himself booked for dissent just five minutes after coming on as a sub. With
Elche starting to press higher up the pitch, Jonathan Sesma ran into space and
managed to pass the ball to Pavoni on the edge of the box, who was scythed down
by Tasevski, the defender lucky to stay on the pitch after collecting an early
booking. Manolo Perez fired the free kick over the bar. A set piece looked like
being the only way for Cadiz to nick a winner, and a Manolo Perez effort from 35
yards out forced an awkward looking save from the keeper who managed to scramble
the ball behind for a corner. It was Elche however who looked most likely to
take all three points, and a free header at the near post was acrobatically
pushed away from danger by Armando. Minutes later a deep cross looked like
finding its target before Varela got the slightest of touches to head the ball
behind for a corner. As the referee's assistant held up 4 minutes injury time,
Varela was booked for bringing down Ismael in a dangerous position on the right
touchline. The ball was swung into a dangerous position but Armando bravely
punched the ball clear whilst receiving a nasty cut from a collision with Benja.
The resulting treatment added a couple of further minutes injury time, and
there's no doubt that the Cadiz fans were the happier to hear the final whistle
after 96 minutes.