Elche 2 : 2 Cordoba C.F. - Cordoba denied first win by Elche

Posted Monday, November 24, 2014 by PA

Cordoba's wait for a first win of the season goes on after they threw away a two-goal lead with half an hour remaining to draw 2-2 at Elche.

Fortune favoured Miroslav Djukic's side at the start of the game, with Elche striker Jonathas de Jesus missing from the penalty spot with just five minutes played, and former Elche forward Fidel Chaves sent the visitors into the lead not long after.

The Andalusians could almost taste the three points when Fede Cartabia scored the second goal of the evening in the 60th minute, but just moments later Elche had another penalty, this one emphatically converted by centre-back David Lomban.

Jonathas then completed the comeback with a drilled volley with 15 minutes remaining to keep Cordoba bottom of the table and still searching for their first Primera Division win for 42 years.

The visitors had made a promising start to the game but Elche were handed the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Cristian Herrera was felled by Aleksandr Pantic in the area.

However, Elche's top scorer Jonathas could not take advantage, hitting his spot-kick squarely down the middle and Juan Carlos guessed correctly to save the shot with his legs.

Elche's frustration was then compounded seven minutes later when Cordoba took the lead. Borja Garcia found space in the middle of the Elche half and split the host defence's high line to release Fidel, who had enough time to bring the ball on to his favoured left foot and shoot low beyond Tyton.

Jonathas came close to spectacularly compensating for his missed penalty before the break. The Brazilian received a high ball 30 yards out and decided to go for goal, his shot striking the bottom of the crossbar and bouncing back just on the wrong side of the goal line.

Cartabia then looked to have sealed victory for Cordoba 15 minutes into the second half. The Argentinian evaded two defenders on the right hand side of the box, then cut inside to play a one-two with Garcia and buried the ball in the far corner with a splendid finish.

The Cordoba substitutes and technical staff on the touchline exploded in ecstasy as they sensed their long-awaited first win was imminent.

But just a few minutes later Lomban cut the visitors' advantage to a single goal by smashing the ball into the net from 12 yards after Faycal Fajr had been fouled by Daniel Pinillos.

Elche then began to pepper Cordoba's box and got the goal they craved in the 75th minute, Jonathas sending a cross from the left crashing into the top corner.