Las Palmas II Breaks Through in Elche: Late Goal Marks Turning Point in Segunda División RFEF Group 5 Struggles

On an autumn afternoon at Campo Diego Quiles, Las Palmas II found salvation where so many recent outings had produced heartbreak. The young Canarian side left Elche with a vital 1-0 victory, a result defined by tenacity and tactical discipline, snapping a five-match winless streak and handing their hosts a dour lesson in efficiency as both teams continue to wrestle with the precarious mathematics of early-season survival in Spain’s fourth tier.

The match unfolded with an air of urgency befitting two sides anchored in the lower reaches of Group 5. Elche II, steady but uninspiring in recent fixtures, arrived 12th in the standings, clinging to seven points from six games—a ledger built on draws more than ambition. Las Palmas II, meanwhile, entered the afternoon rooted in 17th, their four-point haul betraying a defense prone to capitulation and an attack often found wanting in the final third.

As kickoff echoed across the concrete stands, both teams seemed intent on rewriting the narrative that has defined their campaigns. The first half, though scrappy, provided flashes of quality amid frequent midfield skirmishes. Elche II maneuvered possession with a measured patience, seeking to compress the space and probe for openings, while Las Palmas II, emboldened by urgency, threatened sporadically on the break.

The contest’s equilibrium shattered abruptly in the 68th minute. Elche II’s afternoon took a decisive turn when a late tackle drew the referee’s red card—a moment as much about frustration as poor judgment. Reduced to ten men, Elche II retreated, forced to recalibrate their shape and ambitions. For Las Palmas II, the numerical advantage was an invitation to persist.

What followed was a methodical escalation of pressure, Las Palmas II probing relentlessly for the opening that had eluded them in recent weeks. Their patience was rewarded in the 78th minute, as the deadlock finally broke. A swift sequence—initiated from midfield and accelerated by the extra space allowed by Elche’s depleted ranks—ended with Las Palmas II’s striker steering the ball past the goalkeeper. The scorer’s name, lost to official records for now, nonetheless embodied the relief and release that coursed through the traveling squad.

The dying minutes brought further drama and a measure of poetic justice. Seeking to preserve their slender lead, Las Palmas II’s defensive anchor paid the ultimate price for a rugged challenge, receiving a red card in the 90th minute. The last gasp dismissal restored numerical parity but offered Elche II precious little with the clock slipping away.

This result, though not an aesthetic triumph, carries weight for both teams. For Las Palmas II, the win marks only their second of the campaign—a sorely needed infusion of confidence and proof that the blueprint can yield points when discipline and opportunity align. It punctuates a turbulent run: a demoralizing home loss to Fuenlabrada last week, the heartbreak of conceding three at Intercity, and a string of faltering performances that placed manager and squad alike under scrutiny.

Elche II, meanwhile, must grapple with stagnation. The club’s run—marked by four draws, a solitary win, and a loss in their last six—suggests a side comfortable merely surviving. The tendency to settle, twice securing scoreless draws and eking out parity in matches that beckoned ambition, is now mirrored in the standings. The red card incident encapsulates a squad teetering between caution and desperation, one whose margin for error narrows with each passing week.

For both sides, the implications are clear. Las Palmas II’s three-point haul narrows the gap to safety, offering a foothold from which to claw upwards in the congested lower third of Group 5. The road remains steep—their defense tested and discipline in need of reinforcement—but an away win against direct rivals restores belief in the project.

Elche II depart with questions. The tendency to draw, to wait rather than impose, has left them adrift from the cluster challenging for playoff positions. Their recent history—a goalless stalemate with Navalcarnero, a lone win at Real Madrid III—offers little solace. The red card and late concession today underscore a vulnerability that must be addressed if ambitions extend beyond mere avoidance of the drop.

As October’s fixtures beckon, the stakes intensify. Las Palmas II will seek to translate today’s resilience into consistency, their destiny entwined with the ability to seize narrow margins. Elche II must rediscover the verve that secures victories, lest they find their season defined by missed opportunities and a slow drift toward the relegation rumble. The margin for error is shrinking, and every point is a currency spent dearly.

At Campo Diego Quiles, the narrative shifted—if only slightly—in favor of the side willing to chase it deepest into the autumn twilight.