BY CHRIS PEACH
SC Torrevieja CF 3-0 UD Rayo Ibense
Goals: Alex 25, Breno 65, Ernesto 82
SC Torrevieja CF booked their place in the promotion play-offs to Tercera with a commanding 3-0 victory over UD Rayo Ibense on a memorable afternoon at a packed Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Going into the final league game of the season, the equation was clear. A win would guarantee Torry third place and the final play-off spot. With fourth-placed Olímpic facing league leaders Eldense B, Torrevieja knew their superior goal difference gave them a safety net, but there was no interest in relying on favours elsewhere. This was a day to take care of business.
Coach Piquero had a full-strength squad available and named an attacking line-up, with Matías, Ismail, Breno, Caleb and Pucho all included as Torry looked to seize the initiative from the start.
The home side began brightly, and Breno created the first chance of the afternoon when he met a deep cross at the far post, only to find the side netting from a tight angle. Torrevieja dominated possession in the opening stages, but there was an understandable nervousness about their play, with the contest becoming stop-start during the first quarter of an hour.
Breno remained Torry’s main threat and went close again midway through the half, guiding a low header towards goal from seven yards, but the Ibense goalkeeper reacted well to keep it out.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 25th minute. Rayo Ibense failed to clear an inswinging corner, and after a scramble inside the area, the ball dropped to left-back Alex. He showed excellent composure, committing the goalkeeper before calmly passing the ball into the net to give Torrevieja a priceless 1-0 lead.
The goal settled the hosts, who began to play with more freedom. Breno tested the goalkeeper from distance before Caleb almost doubled the advantage on 34 minutes, cutting inside from the left and curling an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Torrevieja finished the first half strongly, with both Caleb and Breno threatening again, but Ibense defended bravely and threw bodies in the way to keep the deficit to one.
Half-time: SC Torrevieja CF 1-0 UD Rayo Ibense
Torry emerged after the interval with renewed purpose. Caleb burst clear down the left and cut the ball back for Pucho, whose deflected effort spun wide for a corner. Moments later, Ismail and Matías combined superbly to release the Uruguayan, but the ball just ran away from him and Ibense managed to scramble clear.
Despite Torrevieja’s control, the visitors remained only one goal behind as the hour mark approached. Ibense had still not registered an effort on target, but with so much at stake, the home crowd knew a second goal was needed to finally calm the nerves.
Piquero made his first change on 60 minutes, introducing Gálvez for Pucho, and the substitution made an immediate impact.
Five minutes later, Torry struck again. Matías released Gálvez down the right, and the substitute showed superb composure to pick out Breno with a clever cut-back. Breno, who had been a constant danger all afternoon, finished confidently to make it 2-0 and put Torrevieja firmly in control.
Further changes followed on 75 minutes as Abadía, Ismail and Caleb were replaced by Lol, Ernesto and Toro. Ibense finally threatened late on after Manresa slipped in possession, but Pizana was alert and produced his first real save of the match, standing strong to deny the visitors at the near post.
Any lingering doubt was removed in the 82nd minute. Matías, influential again, played Ernesto through, and the forward squeezed his finish past the goalkeeper from a narrow angle to complete the scoring and spark celebration around the Nelson Mandela.
Torry made two final substitutions shortly afterwards, with Carmona and Berenguer replacing Breno and Morales, allowing the home side to see out the closing stages in comfort.
Full-time: SC Torrevieja CF 3-0 UD Rayo Ibense
It was a professional, dominant and richly deserved victory for Torrevieja, who overcame early nerves to deliver when the pressure was at its highest. Alex’s first-half opener gave Torry control, Breno’s clinical second-half finish settled the contest, and Ernesto’s late strike sealed a day to remember.
The result confirms a third-place finish and, more importantly, sends SC Torrevieja CF into the play-offs with belief, momentum and the dream of promotion to Tercera still very much alive.
