The team bid farewell to the regular phase of the competition with a line-up that included nine changes in regard to the previous match against Albacete, repeating Luis Hernández and team captain Fede Ricca in defence. Lombán, one of the new faces as a pivot in the wide area, was injured in minute 2 and substituted by Lacen in 5’. At that moment, a Pacheco corner, after a clearance by the rival defence, led to a Boulahroud left-footer slamming the ball into the back of the net after hitting the left post (1-0, 5’).
The first attack by Elche was in minute 12 from a free kick by Nino that resulted in a spectacular save by Kieszek. Ricca, in 16’, and Harper in ’19 both generated opportunities to increase the Malaguistas’ lead. Elche attempted to get into the game in the latter part of the first half, although Málaga created more danger in their approaches. Hicham, with a good shot at the target in 31’, put veteran José Juan to the test.
Harper tried his luck in 36’ with a long shot and Boulahroud, in 41’, narrowly missed out on a close-range header. At half-time, Víctor Sánchez del Amo’s men had a minimal advantage.
In the second half, things didn’t alter too much. Renato, from the right, skied a shot in the 49th minute. In 53’, two consecutive corner kicks came close to Ricca and Diego netting goals. The rival barely disturbed Kieszek’s goal, although there was a sense of danger each time Nino got the ball. Hicham, on the left wing, proved active and incisive on behalf of the Malaguistas.
Midway through the second half, there was a goal-scoring explosion. A Renato corner set up an impeccable header for Fede Ricca (2-0, 66’). The fifth goal for the Uruguayan this season. The captain subsequently left the pitch to a standing ovation, replaced by Miguel Torres who enjoyed his first minutes of the campaign. Immediately afterwards, Pacheco assisted Hicham to score the third goal of the match (3-0, 71’). The Moroccan was then substituted, to rapturous applause, by another homegrown player, Álex Mula (75’).
The crowd was ecstatic, cheering on the team throughout, with the home side far superior over a committed Elche. At the final whistle, the 3-0 win is the fifth on the bounce for Málaga CF, securing third place in LaLiga 1|2|3 with 74 points. In the promotion play-offs, the rival will be RC Deportivo de la Coruña in the first tie. Vamos Málaga! We’ll be back!
