Below-par Eibar on the verge of elimination
Ponferradina were superior and have a three goal cushion that will be hard to overturn in Ipurua
The team from Leon came out with more intensity and concentration and as a result the first goal came in the tenth minute of play. Djordjevic made a cut in from the right that he finished with a low shot into the corner that found the net.
Ponferradina were better organised tactically and Eibar were unable to play with the intensity and fluency that has typified their play so far during the start of the season.
The home team’s second attack resulted in 2-0. It came in the 26th minute as Jebor headed home from a corner taken on the left.
Eibar tried to react and were dominant territorially, but didn’t reach their rival’s area and couldn’t create any goal scoring opportunities.
After the break, the armeros territorial dominance increased, but their play continued to lack the depth necessary to cause their rivals any real problems.
Ponferradina, in contrast, increased their advantage during a move in which Khomchenovsky found himself alone in the area and scored with a low shot.
The minutes passed and Mendilibar’s team still couldn’t get it right. They had only two chances, in the 75 and 76 minute, both falling to Simone Verdi, but the keeper Dinu stopped both the Italian’s header and the following free kick from outside the area.
The game didn’t produce much more and Eibar returned home with a result that will be difficult to overturn in the return game at Ipurua.