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Elche
La Liga
Nov 24, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
Valencia logo

2-1

Fidel (57'), Herrera (84')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Bernat (73')

Live Commentary: Elche 2-1 Valencia - as it happened

Relive our coverage of the La Liga match between Valencia and Elche.
2

A late strike from Cristian Herrera gave Elche a 2-1 win over local rivals Valencia in La Liga.

Fidel had given the home side the league earlier in the second half, but Juan Bernat equalised moments after coming off the bench.

However, Elche's 22-year-old striker also made an impact as a substitute, driving the ball in six minutes from full time on his debut.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening! It's around half an hour until two of La Liga's mid-table sides to head-to-head, with both desperately in need of a win. Let's take a look at the team news ahead of kickoff...

ELCHE STARTING XI: Yague, Suarez, Botia, Lomban, Albacar, Rivera, Marquez, Sanchez, Boakye, Fidel, Stevanovic

VALENCIA STARTING XI: Alves, Guardado, Barragan, Costa, Mathieu, Pabon, Fuego, Parejo, Canales, Cartabia, Jonas

ELCHE SUBSTITUTES: Tono, Pelegrin, Mantecon, Generelo, Coro, Domingo, Herrera

VALENCIA SUBSTITUTES: Jaume, Ruiz, Pereira, Romeu, Banega, Bernat, Postiga

Richmond Boakye is likely to be the key player for the home side, the striker has been the team's leading goalscorer so far this season. The visitors will be looking to Jonas for their goal threat. The striker has scored five goals this campaign, but has not found the back of the net this month.

Despite the clubs both being based in the Valencian Community, this will be the first ever competitive meeting between the neighbouring clubs. Just four places and three points separate the two sides in the table. A derby win for Elche would be enough for the home side to leapfrog Valencia in the table.

Ahead of this evening's game, Valencia midfielder Dani Parejo told reporters: "For us, it is a very important game because we play for more than three points. Valencia always field to win and Sunday will be no different. The team is aware that there is a lot at stake and we have to win."

Elche coach Fran Escriba, who spent his youth career with Valencia, told the club's website: "The game against Valencia will be a nice game, not only for being a derby and because we play in front of our fans, but by the number of people attending. Valencia is a great club and I do they will be dangerous opponents."

PREDICTION! With the players due to head out onto the pitch in the next couple of minutes, let's make a quick prediction. Neither side have been in great form recently, and with the added incentive of beating their local rivals, both will be keen to clinch the win today. However, I can see this being a draw. I'm going for 2-2.

The two teams are heading out ready for their first ever competitive meeting. It's an electric atmosphere at Martinez Valero!.

Valencia get the game underway.

CHANCE! Valencia initially just seem happy to keep possession as they look to settle any derby nerves, but Dorlan Pabon manages to find a gap, and tries to drive the ball in from the edge of the box, but it shot if always rising, and end up in the stands.

Valencia's big-game experience appears to be paying off, as they've hardly let Elche have a touch inside the opening five minutes. However, Fidel wins a free kick when he and Costa tangle, allowing the home side to get the ball into their opponents penalty area for the first time, but there's some shoving in the box, resulting in a free kick for the visitors.

BOOKING! Ricardo Costa continued his midfield battle with Fidel, and end up picking up a yellow card as he brings the midfielder down for the second time in this game.

Elche are starting to find their feet, and are handed another free kick in a strong position when Fuego fouls Stevanovic. The ball is perfectly delivered for Richmond Boakye, but the lively striker can't get his header on target.

Barragan makes a strong run for Valencia, but his attempt at a cross is blocked by Suarez. Fuego eventually manages to get it into the box, but there's no-one there to tap it in for the visitors.

PENALTY APPEAL! Jonas is sent tumbling after clashing with Lomban in the box while trying to pick up a Cartabia cross, but the referee isn't interested in the Valencia strikers' appeals.

CHANCE! Elche win the first corner of the game after Guardado turn a cross behind, but Suarez scuffs his attempt to cross it in, giving Valencia an easy clearance. Valencia immediately win a corner of their own at the other end, but Costa's header is tipped onto the crossbar by Yague.

The visitors are continuing to look the more threatening of the two sides, as Barragan makes another blistering run down the right wing, but Yague claims the ball for Elche before Valencia can get a shot away. Parejo quickly looks to get the ball back in, but Elche manage to force a throw in.

Valencia win a free kick out side around 25 yards from goal following a crunching tackle on Guardado by Rivera. Madrazo wins the ball inside the box and looks to head it in, but it loops just high of the crossbar. Elche's defenders are being kept really busy so far this evening.

CHANCE! As Elche continue to find it difficult to get the ball, Boakye tries to make the most of a rare touch by looking for goal from around 40 yards out. It's actually not a bad effort, as Diego Alves decides it's necessary to make the save, although it may have just to swerving wide.

The hosts win another corner as Mathieu puts it behind before Suarez can cross it in front of goal. Stevanovic was waiting at the near post, but his effort was cleared. Albacar tried to head it back in for Elche, but he fouled Pabon in the process.

CHANCE! Valencia win a pair of corners as they continue their relentless attacking play, but Jonas can't get himself into space to get a shot away. The striker gets another chance a few moments later as the visitors come at the Elche back four again, but Yague makes a solid save to deny Valencia an opening goal.

CHANCE! Fuego tries to catch the Elche keeper out with a long-range effort, but his powerful strike fauled to find the target. Meanwhile there's an injury concern for Valencia as Jonas appears to have clashed heads with Suarez.

Once the referee stops play, Jonas quickly manages to shake off his head injury. Elche have the ball and make a strong run into Valencia's half before Costa makes a block. Sanchez eventually manages to take a shot from outside the box, but it's well high.

CHANCE! It's a great opportunity for Valencia to take the lead as Jonas tees the ball up for a Pabon volley. Yague manages to make the stop but spills it before managing to snatch it back before Jonas can get the rebound.

Valencia continue to pile on the pressure as they try to convert their dominant first-half display into a lead, forcing a corner. Jonas tries to get the header but thinks that he's been fouled by Suarez. The two square up in front of goal and have to be separated by their teammates, but the referee does not believe that the Valencia striker was impeded, giving the home side the goal kick.

CHANCE! A stunning ball forward from Rivera drops to Fidel, who times his run perfectly. Alves is well off his line, leaving the Elche midfielder a simple dink to put the home side ahead against the run of play, but instead he meekly taps the ball straight to the Valencia keeper.

HALF TIME: Elche 0-0 Valencia

So plenty of chances but no goals in the first half. Valencia were undeniably the stronger side throughout the opening 45 minutes, but Fidel's late chance for Elche was probably the best goal-scoring opportunity for either side in the first half.

Let's look at some of the stats from the opening half. Valencia dominated the possession with 65%, while taking 14 shots including two on target. Elche had just four efforts at the Valencia goal, with just one testing Diego Alves.

Despite there not being much of a history between these two clubs, both sides have embraced the derby spirit in their first competitive meeting. Ricardo Costa picked up an early yellow card after a series of clashes, while Jonas and Suarez clashed in the penalty area late on. Elche committed eight fouls in the first half, while Valencia made five.

Elche will surely be looking to get the ball to Richmond Boakye more often in the second half. The striker had very few touches in the first half, but did look keen to shoot every time he got the ball. Fidel has had a couple of opportunities, but has panicked in front of goal.

The players are back out ready for the second half.

Elche get the game back underway.

Elche keep the ball well in the opening couple of minutes of the second half, and try to move up the pitch and apply some early pressure, but Valencia swiftly halt the progress. Canales runs at the Elche defence as he tries to win the ball for Valencia, but he knocks it out for a home throw.

Neither side have really taken control since the restart, with the majority of the play taking place in midfield. Elche certainly seem to have a bit more urgency and are holding their formation better than in the first half, and it looks like the hosts are getting ready to make a substitution.

SUB! Miroslav Stevanovic heads off, with Coro taking his place.

GOAL! Elche 1-0 Valencia (Fidel)

After several minutes of fairly flat play, Elche catch Valencia out with a sudden change of pace. Sanchez launches the ball into the box, and it's initially cleared by Mathieu, but Fidel comes charging in for a superb header to give the hosts the lead.

Valencia immediately push to get the ball down the other end. Having dominated the first half but failed to score, they'll be feeling pretty hard done by. However, they can't get the better of the Elche defence.

BOOKING! Javier Marquez becomes the first Elche player to be shown a yellow card after charging into Federico Cartabia.

SUB! Valencia decide to send on some fresh legs to try and get themselves back on level terms, replacing Cartabia with Helder Postiga.

CHANCE! A high ball into the Elche box lands at the feet of Canales, who has plenty of space in the box, but he drags his shot well wide.

SUB! The home side make their second change, bringing on Sergio Mantecon in place of Richmond Boakye. Elche just haven't been able to get the ball to the striker this evening.

CHANCE! Valencia are continuing to push for an equaliser and are starting to dominate possession again. Postiga has the ball around 20 yards out but has teammates in support, so is forced to take on the shot himself, and it's an easy stop for Yague.

OFF THE LINE! Pabon manages to beat Manuel Yague before passing to Jonas who taps it back to the midfielder, but the home side have Botia back on the line who manages to back-heel Pabon's strong header away. Superb defending!

SUB! Valencia make another chance, replacing Pabon with Juan Bernat

GOAL! Elche 1-1 Valencia (Bernat)

The substitute has an immediate impact. He immediately has a chance to volley in the equaliser, but Yague makes the save, but the midfielder is on hand for the rebound, and manages to find the back of the net on the second time of asking.

CHANCE! Sanchez launched the ball forward for Elche, and Coro controls it well before pulling it back for Mantecon, but the shot is well saved by Alves.

CHANCE! Valencia immediately have the ball down the other end with Postiga attempting to put the visitors in front for the first time, but Yague makes a double save to deny the striker. Clearly neither side is willing to settle for a point!

SUB! The home side make their final change, replacing Javier Marquez with Cristian Herrera.

CHANCE! Herrera looks to make an instant impact for Elche as Coro crosses to the striker on the edge of the box, but Alves watches his curling effort all the way and makes the stop.

GOAL! Elche 2-1 Valencia (Herrera)

Elche have been pressing hard for a winner in the last five minutes and Cristian Herrera may just have found it for the Segunda Division champions. The striker wins the ball on the edge of the box and blasts a show shot into the bottom right corner to restore Elche's lead.

SUB! Needing to force a goal in the final minutes to rescue something from this match, Valencia send on Ever Banega in place of Fuego.

BOOKING! Alberto Rivera picks up a late yellow for a clumsy tackle on Jonas.

CHANCE! Postiga looks to get to the ball with his head, but believes that he was fouled. He lashes out at Botia, but the striker is booked after the referee decides that he committed the foul. The Brazilian is not happy with the call!

Valencia are throwing everything at the Elche goal as they head into three minutes of stoppage time, but the home side have got numbers back in they attempt to hold on for their first win of November.

CHANCE! Guardado has an optimistic shot from 25 yards, but the defender's effort goes well wide.

FULL TIME: Elche 2-1 Valencia

In the first La Liga meeting between the Valencian sides, it's Elche who beat their more famous neighbours courtesy of a late strike from Cristian Herrera. The result moves Elche above Valencia into ninth in the La Liga table.

Valencia will feel disappointed when they look at the statistics from this match. The visitors had 25 shots with eight on target, while Elche had just nine, with three on target. Valencia also had 62% of the possession.

That's all from this match, but you can find reports from all of today's La Liga games, with Sevilla and Real Betis still to come this evening. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

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