Elche fight back to hold Villarreal

Bottom-of-the-table Elche came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Villarreal in La Liga this evening.

All four goals were scored in the first half as the visitors to Alicante raced into the lead, before a nine-minute double from Elche pegged them back.

Villarreal could not muster the same sort of response as their opponents as they failed to reclaim fourth spot following Sevilla's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo earlier.

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The Yellow Submarines went ahead on 12 minutes when reported Liverpool target Luciano Vietto applied the simple finish to a Moi Gomez cross, following a swift counter-attack.

They had doubled their advantage within five minutes as Ikechukwu Uche pounced to convert the close-range rebound of a Mario shot that had been clumsily spilt by Elche keeper Przemysław Tyton.

The hosts did not roll over, however, and pulled one back when Garry Rodrigues drove down the right wing before delivering a low cross which Brazilian Jonathas converted first time into the top corner.

Elche were level by the 34-minute mark as Victor Rodriguez collected a neat layoff when drifting inside from the left to bend a precise right-footed shot beyond Sergio Asenjo, via the far post.

Villarreal appeared the most likely to snatch all three points in the second half as Tyton's quick reactions foiled Vietto, and Jonathan dos Santos had a shot deflected wide of the goal in the final stages.

The point sees Elche leapfrog Cordoba off the foot of the table, while Villarreal remain sixth.