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News Archive

Second division match round-up, play-off final, second leg

Elche 1 - Granada 1

Granada are promoted to the first division after beating Elche on the away goal rule! Just a year after winning promotion from the second division B, the Andalusians have made it up to the top flight for the first time in 35 years. After the Elche team bus was stoned by hooligans when leaving the ground following the first leg, there was an aggressive atmosphere in the Martínez Valero stadium, and after the final whistle there were some ugly scenes as players clashed and angry fans invaded the pitch. The visitors went ahead though with just under half an hour gone, Ighalo running on to long ball from midfield to round Jaime and then coolly beat Carpio before scoring the vital away goal. Elche felt themselves hard done by when Pelegrin got the ball in the net close to half time only to see his strike ruled out for a non-existent offside, and then when Xumetra had a penalty claim turned down after the break. Xumetra levelled the scores on the night though after getting on the end of Edu Albacar's cross with ten minutes to go, but after the goal-less draw in the first leg it was still not enough. Granada take the big prize, and the locals will have to wait another year at least before they have another chance. (18.06.11)