Hercules Secures Extra Week to Keep Promotion Hopes Alive (2-0)

Hercules keeps the miracle alive. The Alicante team has pushed through, with tremendous effort, a lacklustre match against Alcorcón. Soldevila's opportunism and the great play between Coscia and Artiles in just four minutes allowed them to settle a match that was heading towards a goalless draw.

In the absence of talent, Hercules relied on effort, commitment, and the support of the crowd. A tight match, with few goal-scoring opportunities. Torrecilla's team controlled the game, especially in the second half, although they struggled to find Ayesa's goal.

It wasn't until a quarter of an hour before the end that a misunderstanding between Alcorcón's defence and goalkeeper was seized by Soldevila to score his tenth goal of the season in the blue and white shirt.

The Catalan chased the ball and after a rebound managed to push it into the back of the net.

Then came a great move by Agustín Coscia, who carried the ball, looked up, and assisted Artiles. The Canary Islander, with a great chest control, set up the inside of his right boot to beat Alcorcón's goalkeeper Ayesa and seal the match.

The victory ensures Hercules' survival and keeps the dream of promotion alive. The Alicante team must win the remaining four matches to have any chance of promotion, as they are six points behind the fourth place (Mérida) and fifth (Antequera).

Next week, it is crucial for Mérida to stumble in Ceuta and Antequera against Sevilla Atlético on Saturday, and for Hercules to complete the feat on Sunday at 19:30 in Villarreal.

Rubén Torrecilla's press conference after the match served to show the optimism of the Extremaduran coach to still reach the promotion and to reveal one of the great mysteries that worried the Hercules fans: the renewal of Carlos Abad.

Torrecilla stated that the continuity of the blue and white goalkeeper is guaranteed, according to the club's majority shareholder, Enrique Ortiz.