3-2 | Comeback to preserve Ipurua's unbeaten record | SD Eibar

There are no reactions yet. Be the first!

The Starting Eleven

Eibar de San José started with very positive changes in the starting eleven: Jonmi remained in goal; Cubero, wearing a protective mask, made a high-profile return to take the right-back position; Marco Moreno and Arbilla formed the central defensive pair, and Buta was on the left flank. In midfield, as in Almería, Lander Olaetxea and Aleix Garrido were repeated. On the wings, Toni Villa, starting for the first time in the league, and Corpas played, while up front the coach opted for a double forward line with Martón and Bautista.

The worst start

Albacete arrived at Ipurua striking first from a set piece. A corner kick by Agus Medina ended in a shot inside the area that, after deflecting off Jonmi and hitting the crossbar, left the ball dead on the line for Jefté to push it in for 0-1.

Eibar tried to react immediately, attempting to get into the game as soon as possible. In the 9th minute, Aleix recovered a ball in the opponent's half and delivered a vertical pass to Bautista, who, after approaching the edge of the box unopposed, finished with a shot that grazed the far post. Shortly after, Martón headed a cross from Bautista at the far post, but it ended up in Lizoain's hands.

Alba did not sit back and responded through their standout player. Agus tested Jonmi again, and he caught it without hesitation. But the clearest chance came for number 9 in the 18th minute. Martón sent two consecutive crosses into the small area, and the Eibar striker, surprised by the power of the delivery, couldn't adjust his foot to direct the shot between the posts. This action was a cold shower for the Eibar team. Their eagerness to recover turned into disorder.

In the 30th minute came the surreal play of the first half: referee Manuel Ángel Pérez awarded a penalty for a handball by Marco Moreno after an accidental rebound off Jonmi. After consulting with the VAR room, he reversed the decision and awarded a corner kick, as the defender had touched the ball outside the field following the goalkeeper's save.

San José's team took control of the ball but lacked the clarity of ideas needed to equalize. Although Arbilla scored in the 36th minute, taking advantage of a set piece, the play was ruled out for offside.

The first half ended with a dangerous attack from Albacete on the left that Jonmi deflected, and, on the other end, an Eibar corner that lacked height and danger.

Reaction and New Scenario

With an initial shot from Corpas, which Lizoain deflected, the second half began. Martón went to fight for the rebound, and the goalkeeper brought him down with both legs. After a few minutes of suspense, the referee awarded a penalty. Javi Martón himself took responsibility and, with a low shot, tied the game.

Stealing the ball high up, with more order than in the first half and without conceding at the back, Eibar showed their best version after the goal. They even enjoyed another clear chance with a steal at the edge of the box and a one-on-one between Martón and Lizoain, which the goalkeeper won. That action was a morale boost for Alba, who in the next attack scored the second: Gámez sent a low cross from the right, between the goalkeeper and the defenders, and there appeared Jefté to make it 1-2.

But Eibar did not give up and, in the 61st minute, found the equalizer again with a great play by Martón that VAR validated. The forward, on the edge of offside, controlled the ball, found space, and finished with a cross shot to score his sixth goal of the season.

Eibar, being Eibar, returned to the area with their usual dynamism and verticality, although Bautista was two centimeters off. In that vibrant stretch, San José tried to keep his team from breaking apart with the introductions of Álvaro Rodríguez, Alkain, and Sergio Álvarez. Alberto González also made changes, taking off the booked players.

The only thing missing from this chaotic match was for the wind, which Olaetxea mentioned in the pre-match, to tip the scales in favor of the Armeros. And that stroke of luck came past the 70th minute, with a shot from Martón that hit a defender's arm. Corpas asked for the ball and deceived Lizoain to make it 3-2.

Shortly after, San José took number 20 off the field, who ended his performance with a resounding ovation. Javi Martínez came on in his place with fifteen minutes plus added time remaining. Eibar did not sit back and continued looking to seal the game against a rival that was exhausting its offensive resources. In a generous stoppage time, the group, more than the team, knew how to suffer to neutralize the opponent.