A late fightback fell just short of securing a point. Elche CF lost 3-2 away at Racing Santander in a match defined by a first-half hat-trick from Yassir Zabiri for the hosts, despite two very late goals from the visitors that set up a frantic finish.
Sebastián Beccacece's side were punished early by the Moroccan forward's efficiency on his LaLiga debut. Zabiri opened the scoring in the 15th minute after a mistake from goalkeeper Matías Dituro, added a second just six minutes later, and completed his hat-trick in the 36th to give Racing a commanding lead at the break.
The second-half response
Manager Anselmi made changes at half-time searching for a reaction. Improvement was immediate, with Facundo Buonanotte hitting the post shortly after the restart. Elche struggled to turn possession into clear chances until a dramatic final flurry. In the 78th minute, Buba Sangaré pulled one back with a long-range effort that took a deflection. Almost from the kick-off, Fer Niño headed home to make it 3-2, sparking belief in an unlikely comeback.
The final minutes were a siege on the Racing goal, with Elche pushing relentlessly for an equaliser. Dituro had earlier made amends for his error with a key save to deny Villalibre in the 74th minute. The Sardinero crowd, which had celebrated Zabiri's hat-trick wildly, endured a nervous finale before referee Carlos Muñiz Muñoz blew for full-time. The defeat marks Elche's first loss of the campaign after an opening-day draw. The team now turns its attention to the next fixture, aiming to get back on track at home.
