A point which once again was less than we deserved as football returned to Nervión. In the first half a great goal from Isaac gave us the lead, however after the break goals from André Silva and Rafa Mir flipped the game on its head. We dug in and salvaged a point as Peque scored from an Alexis assist. The starting lineup included three central defenders with Nianzou, Marcao and Azpilicueta. Almeyda’s side pushed hard, turning to a more direct style of play. A strike from André Silva and a free-kick from Rafa Mir that snuck in at the far post gave Elche the lead but before this, a good ball from Batista Mendy, headed on from Vargas into the path of Isaac made the game 1-0 on the half-hour mark.

With the advantage and after playing positively in the final 15 minutes of the first half, we kept the ball well and barely suffered any attacks against us, however we also did not take any chances to double our lead. In an isolated action, it was Elche who came close to scoring with a chance from a corner that went slightly wide of the post. A second goal for Isaac was ruled out for offside. Against the run of play, a run from Neto down the left-hand side who put the ball into the box for Silva to equalise for the visitors. Almeyda acted with a triple change, yet Rafa Mir made the situation even more complicated with his goal 20 minutes before the end of the game.

We felt the blow but kept pushing and eventually found our reward through a moment of real quality from Alexis, who flicked the ball with his heel to set up Peque’s strike, unstoppable for Dituro. There was some suspense, though, as the linesman initially ruled out what would become the third disallowed goal of the night before it was finally allowed to stand. We could have even had a fourth but it was chalked off for a foul by Isaac in the build-up, denying the ultimate late turnaround. The team showed heart and the fans played their part but the bitter feeling remains of two points that slipped away. Next up, on the road away at Mendizorroza against Deportivo Alavés and a chance to put things right.

MATCH DETAILS

2. SEVILLA FC: Nyland, Juanlu (Januzaj, 79’), Nianzou (Castrín, 61’), Marcao, Azpilicueta, Agoumé, Batista Mendy, Gudelj (Alexis, 61’), Vargas (Peque, 79’), Alfon (Suazo, 61’) and Isaac.

2. ELCHE CF: Dituro, Víctor Chust (Héctor Fort), Affengruber, Bigas, Álvaro, Ali Houary (Mendoza, 60’), Febas, Neto (John, 88’), Pedrosa (Petrot, 88’), Rafa Mir (Álvaro Rodríguez, 80’) and André Silva.

GOALS: 1-0, 28’: Isaac; 1-1, 54’: André Silva; 2-1, 70’: Rafa Mir; 2-2, 85’: Peque.

REFEREE: Javier Alberola Rojas. Yellow cards for Agoumé, Isaac, Nianzou, Azpilicueta, Víctor Chust, Pedrosa, John and Matías Almeyda.