Fer Nino strikes twice as Elche overcome early red card to beat Espanyol

Elche secured their first La Liga win of the season by beating Espanyol 3-1 despite playing almost the entire match with 10 men.

Captain Federico Redondo was dismissed in the sixth minute after referee Jon Ander Gonzalez Esteban, following a VAR review, overturned his initial decision over a challenge on Bryan Zaragoza.

Redondo appeared to pull back the Espanyol winger as he ran towards goal. Although the referee initially allowed play to continue, he later showed the Elche midfielder a red card.

Elche responded to the setback with a disciplined performance and remained a threat in attack, while Espanyol struggled to make their numerical advantage count.

Fer Nino put the visitors ahead after running on to a long pass, going around goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic and finishing calmly into the empty net from a tight angle.

The forward scored again before half-time. Roy Revivo was allowed too much room on the left and delivered a cross to the far post, where Nino struck a low volley past Dmitrovic.

The second goal was Nino’s fourth in five matches and gave Elche a 2-0 lead despite Redondo’s early dismissal.

Espanyol had most of the possession after the interval but could not consistently trouble Matias Dituro. Cala sent a long-range effort over the crossbar and Roberto Fernandez headed just wide.

Elche came close to extending their advantage when Lucas Cepeda’s deflected shot hit the post. Dmitrovic then kept Espanyol in the contest by saving from Marcos Fernandez and Javi Hernandez.

The home side eventually reduced the deficit with less than 20 minutes remaining. Javi Hernandez’s inswinging cross took an unfortunate touch off Victor Chust and flew into the bottom corner.

Espanyol pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Elche settled the match on the counter-attack.

German Valera carried the ball forward from inside his own half before lifting a composed finish over Dmitrovic to restore Elche’s two-goal advantage.

Dmitrovic then tipped Javier Morcillo’s long-range effort on to the crossbar as Elche threatened a fourth, but the visitors saw out the closing stages without further trouble.

The result ended Elche’s six-match winless start to the campaign and moved them out of the relegation zone. Espanyol were left frustrated after failing to take advantage of playing against 10 men for almost the whole match.