Fede Redondo was sent off in the sixth minute of Elche CF's 3-1 win at Espanyol last Friday, a decision that left the green-and-white striped side with ten men for the vast majority of the match. Referee Jon Ander González, officiating his fourth Primera División game, reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor after a VAR check and showed a straight red card to the midfielder for holding Bryan Zaragoza as the Espanyol forward broke through on goal against keeper Dituro.
The early dismissal severely disrupted Elche's initial game plan at the RCDE Stadium, but the team showed resilience to fight back. Fernando Niño, the team's top scorer this season with three goals, netted a quickfire double in the 26th and 29th minutes, both assisted by Roy Revivo, to turn the scoreline around. The 3-1 victory lifts Elche to 17th place in LaLiga EA Sports, with 5 points from a possible 21.
The red card was issued by referee Jon Ander González after he conducted an on-field review. González, operating from the VOR room, was taking charge of his fourth top-flight match and this was the first red card he has shown at this level. The incident stemmed from a long ball that released Bryan Zaragoza on the break, with Redondo the last defender.
Despite playing a man down for over 80 minutes, Elche secured a key win that breaks a poor run of form. The team now turns its attention to a home fixture against Celta Vigo on October 11th, a direct clash with the league's bottom side. The manager will have to plan his midfield for that match without the suspended Redondo.
More detail at Mundo Deportivo
