Elche have ended their excruciatingly lengthy await a win within the Spanish league with a 3-1 win over Villarreal after Pere Milla scored a hat-trick earlier than being carried off on a stretcher.
Final-placed Elche, a modest membership from southern Spain, had endured your entire first half of the league and not using a single win.
Saturday’s victory lastly got here in Spherical 20 towards a Villarreal aspect who beat Actual Madrid final month and are combating for a Champions League berth.
In the meantime, Atletico Madrid conceded a late penalty and have been held by relegation-threatened Getafe to 1-1.
Elche, enjoying below their third coach of the marketing campaign, nonetheless want a significant turnaround to keep away from relegation. They’ve simply 9 factors and sit 11 factors from security.
“Something is feasible,” Elche goalkeeper Edgar Badia mentioned of his crew’s hopes of staying within the top-flight for a fourth consecutive season. “Our mentality is sport by sport and never wanting far forward. It’s not time to consider the previous.”
Milla, enjoying in his fourth season at Elche, was injured after his treble and was taken off on a stretcher within the 58th minute with a suspected damaged collarbone.
Milla opened the scoring when he fired a deflected ball previous Pepe Reina three minutes after kickoff in Elche.
Gerard Moreno equalized within the 22nd along with his eighth purpose throughout all competitions from a move by Alex Baena.
However Milla transformed two penalties within the 48th and 52nd to make sure the 18,000 followers who turned out might lastly have a motive to have a good time.
The spectators did the wave at Martinez Valero Stadium within the remaining minutes whereas Elche participant Omar Mascarell wept from aid.
“I have not been right here that lengthy, however I do know the gamers and the membership employees, and naturally our followers who by no means deserted us, who believed this win would come. That is for them,” mentioned supervisor Pablo Machin, who took over in November.
Villarreal stayed in fifth place after a second straight loss.
Atletico have been in management towards Getafe till Saul Niguez gave away the penalty when a cross hit his flying arm within the space.
Getafe striker Enes Unal rifled the spot kick previous Jan Oblak for the 83rd-minute equalizer after Angel Correa opened the scoring within the 60th.
Getafe’s first level of 2023 ended a run of 4 consecutive league losses for Quique Sanchez Flores’ crew.
Fourth-placed Atletico have been left 4 factors away from Villarreal and Actual Betis, who additionally stumbled.
Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga scored twice to assist win a high-tempo 4-Three thriller over Actual Betis in Seville.
Aided by the sharp passing of Carles Perez, Iago Aspas and Luca de la Torre, Celta acquired their most spectacular win of an in any other case troublesome season.
Betis’ Luiz Felipe was despatched off for a brush with Aspas within the remaining minutes, setting off a short scuffle between the groups.
Additionally, Espanyol got here again to attract at house with Osasuna 1-1.
