A crucial point to end the run of defeats and bring the objective closer
For the first time this season, Eibar earn a point after being behind in a game
Eibar have picked up a crucial point in Vallecas that is worth three times that, because it maintains the distance to the relegation places, beats Rayo Vallecano’s goal average and puts an end to the four game losing streak.With this draw the gunsmiths move a little closer to the goal of staying up with only nine games left until the end of the season.
The game started badly for Eibar, who were at the mercy of a Rayo team that started the game better. In the 7th minute, the set piece curse returned to strike Mendilibar’s team, who conceded from a corner kick headed in by Zé Castro, with Asier Riesgo - who got a touch on the ball - unable to prevent the goal.
Jémez’s side had another chance but it was Eibar that gradually started to take control of the game. In the 23rd, Escalante, arriving from the back, met a pass from Juncà but his header went over the bar.The same protagonists were involved in the 35th minute but this time the result was different. Radosevic taking a quick free kick in the middle passed to Juncà and the Catalan’s accurate delivery was put away by Escalante with a downward header.
At the start of the second half, Borja looked certain to score but his shot was blocked. In the second half both side had periods of dominance, with few goal-scoring opportunities and the gunsmiths playing deeper. The best chance came in the 78th minute with a penetrating run by Capa who failed either to shoot, or to find Borja, who was in a magnificent position to score.
Mendilibar looked for the victory by bringing on Sergi Enrich but a short time later Josip Radosevic, who was very active during the game, received a second yellow card to leave his team a man short in the 85th minute, when a draw then became the only objective.
Rayo pressed until the end, aware that a draw wasn’t enough, and could have scored at the death but Llorente’s headed effort from a corner was excellently saved by Riesgo, who held on to the ball and a point for his team.