2-1: UD Almería knocked out of Spanish Cup by CD Eldense

UD Almería’s Spanish Cup journey ended abruptly in the second round, as they were defeated 2-1 by CD Eldense in a dramatic second-half turnaround. The Rojiblancos initially took the lead through Soko, but two quick-fire goals from the hosts after the break sealed their fate.

Head coach Rubi made several changes to his starting XI, with many players who are not regulars in the league starting. Centelles and Arnau Puigmal kept their spots from the previous match against SD Huesca. Bruno Iribarne was in goal, and Marcos Luna, Aridane, Pedro Fidel, and Centelles formed the defence. Baba and Selvi anchored the midfield, with Horta playing ahead and Soko leading the attack.

The match began with a good tempo, as UD Almería controlled possession early, but CD Eldense defended resolutely, limiting the Rojiblancos' attacking options. The first real chance came from the hosts in the 15th minute, when Bellari made a great run into the box, only to fire his shot into the side netting.

Despite some end-to-end play, neither team created clear chances, but in the 30th minute, Baba played a fantastic through ball to Soko, who finished calmly past the goalkeeper to give UD Almería a 1-0 lead. With a strong defensive showing, UD Almería held their advantage as the first half ended.

The second period saw an immediate response from CD Eldense. Just 10 minutes after the restart, Bellari equalised with a well-taken free-kick, leveling the score at 1-1. The momentum shifted and the hosts started to push forward more confidently.

Rubi reacted by making changes in attack, introducing Robertone, Embarba, and Thalys in place of Horta, Perović, and Soko, but before these substitutes could make an impact, the Elda players struck again. In the 65th minute, Nacho Quintana scored with a header from a cross on the right, putting the hosts 2-1 ahead.

In an effort to turn the game around, Rubi brought on Sergio Arribas in the 71st minute for Baba, adding more attacking options. UD Almería pressed for an equalizer, but the hosts stood firm defensively, thwarting any attempts from the Indálicos.

In the 77th minute, UD Almería ‘B’ striker Hou made his first-team debut, as UD Almería sought a late equaliser. However, despite their best efforts, the Rojiblancos were unable to break down CD Eldense’s defence and the final whistle blew with the score at 2-1.

After a promising opening half, UD Almería failed to recover from the momentum shift in the second half and were eliminated from the Copa del Rey.