Atlético Malagueño suffered defeat on Sunday at the Nuevo San Ignacio in the return leg of the second round of promotion playoffs to Segunda Federación. Acosta, in minute 55, scored the only goal of the match.
Atlético Malagueño faced El Palo FC at Nuevo San Ignacio on Sunday in the return leg of the second round of promotion playoffs to Segunda Federación. The team to qualify to the third and final round would be decided following the 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Federación Malagueña de Fútbol.
Funes opted for the following starting-11: Carlos López in goal; Murillo, Recio and Andrés Caro as central defenders, plus Bilal and Issa Fomba on the wings; Arriaza, Rafa and Álex Rico in midfield; and Jesús Martín and Juanmita upfront.
The match, played under heavy rainfall throughout, started with the two teams trying to find the rival goal directly.
The first chance was generated by Jesús Martín, who attempted to surprise Benito from midfield, yet his shot went high.
There were then several local attempts by Silva, Acosta and Joao Paolo until Álex Rico was injured midway through the first half, replaced by Paco.
The last major chance of the first half went to El Palo’s Víctor Vázquez, which was saved by Issa Fomba in goal.
Oñate came on after half-time for Arriaza in a substitution aimed at stepping up Malagueño’s attack, with the lads needing to win to make it through to the next round.
The match became an uphill struggle for the Blue and Whites, wearing the away kit for this game, soon after the second half got underway due to a goal by Acosta (1-0, min55).
Shortly after the goal, Izan Fernández came on for Andrés Caro, and later, Bolívar, for an injured Oñate, making up Funes’ three substitution windows.
Goalkeeper Carlos López was decisive in keeping Malagueño in the game, clearing Christian's header, and minutes later Víctor Vázquez's free-kick and Javi López's rebound.
Juanmita tried his luck without much success on a couple of occasions, Rafa headed a corner into the hands of Benito, and Recio sent another shot high, while Izan Fernández launched the ball into the goalkeeper's hands in the clearest actions for the Malaguistas.
However, the scoreboard didn’t move from 1-0. Atlético Malagueño were unable to overcome El Palo FC in the return leg of the second round of promotion playoffs to Segunda Federación, bringing an end to the 2022/23 season.
