Aguado’s Header Earns Elche a 1–1 Draw at Deportivo

Early chances before Deportivo’s opener

Elche had more of the ball early. In the ninth minute, Ali Houary got an effort away from close range after a corner, but Leo Román blocked it. Deportivo then had an opening when Bil intercepted a poor pass from Dituro outside the area. Bil shot, and Dituro saved.

Amatucci’s long pass later sent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through, and Aubameyang finished across Dituro to give Deportivo the lead. Deportivo carried that advantage into halftime.

Second-half chances and changes

After the break, Asp Jensen drove down the left and sent a shot narrowly wide of the left post. Elche had chances of its own in the 57th minute: Leo Román made consecutive saves from Fer Niño and Gonzalo Villar.

Both teams made changes in the 59th minute. Elche brought on Tete Morente and Lucas Cepeda, while Deportivo introduced Zakaria Eddahchouri and Diego Villares. Umaru replaced Fer Niño in the 68th minute, and David Mella and Luismi Cruz came on for Deportivo in the 70th.

Aguado levels it from a corner

Marc Aguado supplied Elche’s equalizer in the second half, heading Gonzalo Villar’s corner delivery into the upper-right corner. The goal erased Deportivo’s halftime lead. Cepeda later took a pass from Aguado and forced Leo Román into a low save, giving Elche another chance to go ahead.

A late miss and a draw

Kevin Sanchez replaced Aubameyang late for Deportivo. Luismi Cruz also had a late attempt from a tight angle on the right, but missed. The match finished 1–1. Deportivo had eight shots, three on target; Elche had 11 shots, six on target.