Rayo 2-Elche 1 | Nteka prolongs the eurofiesta in Vallecas: Rayo, in Europa League

Vallecas makes Lightning better and Lightning is thunder in Vallecas. The franjirrojos remain undefeated at home, although this time there was no win but comeback. Soon the script was twisted with the goal of Lucas Boyé, but the youth squad Mario Hernández rounded off his debut in the First Division by tying the contest. The changes decided the meeting and Nteka put the final 2-1 on the first ball he touched. Iraola’s men get into the Champions League, although the dream may be a matter of hours, at the expense of an Elche for whom his final retaliation was not enough.

Time is relative. More than a year and a half had passed, but it seemed that it was yesterday when the Vallecas stands were enjoying the last game of the old normality. Today, in this new one, the stadium roared as before and was the first to jump to play with its thunderous chants and a great entrance (6,899 spectators). While on the pitch, the beats soared, with both contestants showing their cards, Rayo touching the ball —especially on the left flank, with an active Fran García— and Elche sniffing the losses of others to stand in the rival area. That first hand was going strong.

This is how before the quarter of an hour, an exalted Lucas Boyé passed the visitors and reversed the roles, since Rayo had the vitola of the earliest first team on their appointment with the goal. The Argentine forward took advantage of a failure in the departure of Mario Hernández to stand in the area, open a gap between the locals and set up a crossed right hand, under the legs of Catena, who got to touch Dimitrievski but ended up in the back of the net. However, fate was not going to be so bitter with the franjirrojo youth squad in his debut in the First Division. There was still a sweet surprise in store for him. Comesaña sensed him and hung the ball on the back of the defense so that Mario, who entered free of the mark and at full speed, headed the 1-1 with his soul. Just a reward for the push of Iraola’s, who after the slap came up.

The tie returned both teams to the starting box. Start again. Neither Rayo nor Elche slowed down and the micro-infarctions followed one another … Fidel sought the surprise with an Olympic goal, which Fran García destroyed at the far post. Later, Óscar Valentín had her in the small area and Mascarell managed to divert her. Benedetto also intimidated, although Dimitrievski aborted that fire attempt. After the break, Rayo charged again and savored a double chance. A hyperactive Fran García beat Sergi Guardiola and he did not get to hunt the center by the hair, then Comesaña tried without luck. However, the greatest danger was posed by a header from Saveljich that Kiko Casilla blocked.

The carousel of changes made the Strip fly and crash Elche. It didn’t take Nteka three minutes to get the Vallecas stand on their feet. The Frenchman, in the first ball he touched, made a wall with Trejo and with a right hand in the front culminated the Madrid comeback. In the absence of Falcao, the blow was given by him. Elche tried to squeeze the final minutes and ran into an ordered enemy behind. Dimitrievski saved a header from Carrillo, although a mistake by Kiko Casilla, which ended up unhinged, almost ended with Unai López’s 3-1. With the countdown activated, Lucas Pérez launched himself with everything and his left foot was lost high by a few centimeters. Vallecas had already handed down a sentence and the fact is that his Lightning has no limits …. Neither do dreams.