Agonizing! Real Sociedad saves itself from Elche and wins 3-2 with an 89th-minute goal

A great goal by Luka Sucic in the 89th minute allowed Real Sociedad to achieve its first away victory in the Spanish first division this Monday and left Elche, which remains winless this season, without the comeback they were dreaming of.

After a first half of clear dominance by the team from San Sebastián, reflected in two away goals, Elche took advantage of Jon Martín's expulsion midway through the second half to get back into the game and level the score, but just when Real Sociedad was suffering the most, Sucic's play arrived to seal the result.

Elche and Real Sociedad, conditioned by their recent results, modified their usual game plan in search of a reaction.

The Elche team fielded two strikers for the first time this season, while Pellegrino Matarazzo introduced six changes to his lineup, including the goalkeeper, where Marrero replaced Remiro.

The match began at a frantic pace. Elche had their first option after a ball steal, but Eze Ponce, too slow, missed a golden opportunity to face Marrero.

Real Sociedad's response was much more emphatic. Following a corner kick, young Ochieng took advantage of a defensive mismatch to beat Dituro with a powerful shot from close range.

The goal hurt Elche, who for several minutes were at the mercy of a Real Sociedad side that found in long balls to Ochieng the formula to overcome the Elche team's pressure.

As the minutes passed, Elche began to recover their composure thanks to the movement between the lines by Buonanotte and Fer Niño.

When the game was at its most balanced, another Elche error while playing the ball out was exploited by Real Sociedad to score the second.

Bigas controlled the ball poorly in a high-risk area and Ochieng passed it to the Venezuelan Yangel Herrera, who beat Dituro with a centered shot that slipped under the Argentine goalkeeper's body.

The goal unleashed criticism from the public, who whistled at Dituro and his defense on every play. Real Sociedad, with minimal effort, caused panic again on another counterattack, but on this occasion Guedes fell asleep and allowed Bigas to prevent a certain goal.

Nothing changed after the break. Real Sociedad imposed a slow pace of play against an impotent Elche, incapable of creating danger.

The entry of the Frenchman Lemar and the Argentine Osorio gave the Elche side the energy and quality needed to get back into the game.

Despite the local improvement, the match was about to break open in the 61st minute, when Real Sociedad scored the third goal after a counterattack finished by Sucic.

However, the goal did not stand as it was disallowed for a handball by Jon Martín at the beginning of the play, an action for which he was also sent off with a direct red card.

Elche felt that soccer had given them an extra life and went for the match. Just five minutes later, Lemar brought his team fully back into the game with a great shot that Marrero could not catch.

Matarazzo reacted by protecting his area and giving up the ball, but Anselmi's team, unleashed, found the equalizer shortly after through Fer Niño, who finished off an assist from Morente under the posts.

Elche, now winning all the duels, went for more. Chust and Osorio were close to completing the comeback, but Real Sociedad still found the strength to land one last blow after a brilliant individual effort by Sucic.

WHO PLAYED?

Elche: Dituro; Sangaré (Revivo, min. 81), Chust, Bigas; Tete Morente, Buonanotte (Lemar, min. 54), Morcillo, Gonzalo Villar (Cepeda, min. 69), Germán Valera (Josan, min. 81); Fer Niño and Eze Ponce (Osorio, min. 54).

Real Sociedad: Marrero; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Sarr (Jon Martín, min. 58), Sergio Gómez; Carlos Soler (Pacheco, min. 69), Yangel Herrera, Sucic; Guedes (Marchal, min. 58) (Héctor Fort, min. 81), Ochieng and Oyarzabal (Gorrotxa, min. 69).

Goals: 0-1, min. 10: Ochieng. 0-2, min. 31: Yangel Herrera. 1-2, min. 67: Lemar. 2-2, min. 74: Fer Niño. 2-3, min. 89: Sucic.

Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz. He showed a yellow card to Aramburu (min. 9), for Real Sociedad, and to Tete Morente (min. 43), Fer Niño (min. 54), Germán Valera (min. 67) and Lemar (min. 95), for Elche. He sent off Jon Martín (min. 61) with a direct red card for a handball at the beginning of the play.

Incidents: Match corresponding to the fourth day of the Spanish LaLiga soccer league played at the Martínez Valero stadium in Elche before 25,562 spectators. The general manager of Elche, Pedro Schinocca, presented a recognition plaque to Mikel Oyarzabal for having achieved victory in the last World Cup with the Spanish national team.