Match Report: Valencia CF draw 1-1 with Elche CF

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Valencia CF fought back to draw 1-1 with Elche CF on LaLiga Matchday 19, as Pepelu converted a late penalty at Mestalla.

Four minutes in, Valencia CF had a great opportunity to take the lead after Luis Rioja stole the ball from Víctor Chust, as he tried to play out from the back. The Andalusian winger attempted a lob, but it dropped wide of the post.

Within ten minutes, Rioja provided another dangerous chance on a counterattack started by André Almeida. He cut inside the area and shot, but his effort went off-target.

In the next move, Thierry Correia had to be substituted after suffering a muscle injury replaced by Dmitri Foulquier.

Copete made a run down the left flank shortly thereafter and crossed the ball for Diego López -who headed beyond the post.

Pepelu delivered a free kick and Foulquier got a touch on the ball with his head, but failed to turn the attempt home. When the Elche goalkeeper subsequently made a mistake in his distribution, Rioja nearly capitalised.

From another corner, Pepelu crossed, Lucas Beltrán headed on, and Foulquier just missed connecting at the far post. Moments later, Beltrán struck a shot from outside the box, but Dituro made the save.

In the 46th minute, Almeida had a great chance to open the scoring off a counterattack, although his shot from inside the area went wide. Following this, Elche launched another counterattack, which Copete brilliantly thwarted.

SECOND HALF

After the break, Valencia CF started things off with Pepelu's shot from outside the box that grazed the crossbar.

In the 64th minute, Umar Sadiq and Arnaut Danjuma came on to switch up the attack, with the former having returned to the club on a full-time deal this past week.

Quarter of an hour from time, bad luck struck, when Elche’s Diang fired an effort from outside the penalty area to score for Elche.

Javi Guerra and Largie Ramazani entered the fold in further changes, and Valencia CF continued to press.

Foulquier created a dangerous opportunity near the Elche CF box, then Luis Rioja took a free kick, with Pepelu collecting the rebound. His shot struck the hand of an opposition defender, and referee Ortiz Arias awarded a penalty to Valencia CF.

Pepelu himselfconverted to make it 1-1, levelling the game.

Valencia CF almost took the lead moments later when Ramazani's shot was tipped over the bar by Dituro and, despite their efforts in a late push, the game ended in a stalemate.

Valencia CF will play Burgos CF in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on Thursday, at El Plantío.

match stats

1. VALENCIA CF: Dimitrievski, Thierry R. (Foulquier, 17’), Tárrega, Copete,Gayà ©, Pepelu, Ugrinic (Javi Guerra, 78’), Diego López (Ramazani, 78’), L.Rioja, A. Almeida (Danjuma, 64’) and Beltrán (Sadiq, 64’).

1. ELCHE CF: Dituro, Á. Núñez (Pedrosa, 74’),Víctor Chust, Bigas (Affengruber, 60’), Petrot, Germán V., M. Aguado, Febas(Redondo, 83’), M. Neto (Diang, 74’), Y. Santiago (Adam, 60’) and Álvaro R.

GOALS: Diang,76’ (0-1); Pepelu, 87’ (1-1).

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