Celta Fortuna earned a point against Córdoba CF at Abanca Balaídos in a match where the reserve side took the lead twice and played the entire second half with a numerical advantage, yet failed to convert their dominance into a victory that was well within their reach.
Despite numerous absences heading into the match, Fortuna maintained their identity from the start, prioritizing possession and a direct, attacking style. The game lived up to expectations, quickly turning into an end-to-end affair. Capde and Óscar Marcos created the first threats for the hosts, before Kibet broke the deadlock with a fine individual effort, finishing with a low shot to make it 1-0. Córdoba responded immediately, with Diego Bri leveling the score following an attack down the left flank.
The intensity remained high until halftime, a period preceded by a pivotal moment for the remainder of the match. A harsh challenge by Álex Martín on Óscar Marcos, initially punished with a yellow card, was reviewed by VAR and ultimately resulted in the visiting player’s expulsion.
With an extra man, Fortuna stepped up after the break and took control of the game. Their persistence paid off when Álvaro Marín capitalized on a rebound from the goalkeeper to restore the lead for the hosts. The reserve side sought to extend their advantage, but Córdoba held firm and managed to equalize following an attack down the right wing.
The final stretch saw Isma Ruiz sent off, leaving the Andalusian side with nine men for the closing minutes. Fortuna pushed hard for the win, with Ndiaye coming close to a late winner; his header went wide just as the crowd at Balaídos was already anticipating a third goal.
It was a bittersweet draw for Celta Fortuna, who performed at a high level against the team with the highest shot-conversion rate in the division. Now, Fredi Álvarez’s side is preparing for two consecutive matches away from Abanca Balaídos, with visits to Burgos and Albacete.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
2 – Celta Fortuna: Coke Carrillo; Quique Ribes (Germain Milla, min. 68), Seyni Ndiaye, Joel López; Pablo Gavián, Adrià Capdevila (Stefan Bajcetic, min. 78), Mateo Sobral (David Sueiro, min. 78), Ángel Arcos; Kibet (Vlad, min. 68), Óscar Marcos (Ángel Davila, min. 87) and Álvaro Marín.
2 – Córdoba CF: Iker Álvarez; Budesca, Gutiérrez, Alex Martín, Tasende; Eder García (Damián, min. 61), Isma Ruiz, Ghailan (Théo Zidane, min. 77); Carracedo (Rubén Alves, min. 46), Bri (Enol, min. 61) and Percan (Víctor, min. 61).
Goals: 1-0, min. 24: Kibet. 1-1, min. 26: Diego Bri. 2-1, min. 56: Álvaro Marín. 2-2, min. 73: Víctor Sánchez.
Referee: Saúl Ais (Valencian Committee). For Celta Fortuna, the referee issued yellow cards to Álvaro Marín and Óscar Marcos. For Córdoba CF, he handed out straight red cards to Alex Martín (min. 45) and Isma Ruiz (min. 85), and also issued yellow cards to Carracedo and Théo.
Match details: A fixture from Matchday 12 of LaLiga Hypermotion, played at Abanca Balaídos in front of 3,124 spectators. Before the match, a respectful minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the train accident in Toledo.
