Cucho Hernández’s first goal in red and black gave us a crucial three points in our fight for survival as we overcame Deportivo Alavés 1-0 at Son Moix.
Following Matchday 23’s 1-0 loss to RCD Espanyol away from home, Vicente Moreno made just one change to side, swapping Lago Junior for the eventual goalscorer as we looked to end a run of three consecutive domestic defeats.
A cagey opening to the game saw both sides hesitant to break forward in search of a way to break the deadlock, and it wasn’t until the 25th minute Ante Budimir had the game’s first shot on target, forcing Fernando Pacheco down low from a corner set-piece worked on the training ground.
The first half wouldn’t be without its VAR drama, as following a lengthy audtio consultation, Lisandro Magallan was adjudged to have handled Budimir’s header in the box. Salva Sevilla stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but Pacheco denied his placed effort by saving to his right.
Aleix Febas’ effort from distance and Antonio Raillo’s off-target header would be the remaining highlights of the 15 minutes which followed our penalty miss, forcing us into the break goalless.
Little separating the two sides after the restart, Moreno took the initiative with the introduction of Take Kubo shortly into the second half, a substitution which almost proved to be inspired when the teenager teed up Dani Rodríguez for what many had thought to be the opener only for VAR pull play back for a Cucho handball in the build-up.
Kubo continued to wreak havoc on the visitors’ backline, jinking past several challenges moments later to force Pachecho into a save at his near post. The winger then found Cucho alone in the box, but the Colombian fired high and wide of the mark.
The striker wouldn’t miss at the second time of asking however, acrobatically connecting with debutant Leonardo Koutris’ cross to force Pachecho into a save, but making no mistake on the follow-up to score his first goal in red and black.
Looking to then kill any hope of a potential comeback with continued pressure in the final third, our best chance of the remaining 27 minutes fell to Dani Rodríguez who’s wild effort sailed over the bar.
Deportivo Alavés came close to causing heartbreak when Manu Garcia poked home from a few yards out, but there was little doubt over the offside call as the assistant referee’s flag was swiftly raised. Despite a late surge from the visitors in added time, we held onto register an important three points in our fight for survival.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Lumor (28’), Valjent, Raíllo, Pozo (84’), Baba, Febas (51’), Dani Rodríguez, Salva Sevilla, Cucho Hernández, Ante Budimir
Substitutes: Fabrico, Sedlar (84’), Take Kubo (51’), Abdón, Koutris (28’), Señé, Lago Junior
Deportivo Alavés: Pacheco, Ximo Navarro, Laguardia, Magallán (68’), Duarte, Burke (57’), Fejsa, Camarasa, Vidal (76’), Joselu, Lucas Pérez
Substitutes: Aritz, Ely, Edgar (57’), Manu García (68’), Pons, Martín (76’), Borja
Goals: Cucho Hernández (63’), 1-0
