The China Mail - Atletico beaten again in Elche thriller

The Champions League semi-finalists, who host Arsenal next Wednesday in Europe, could not bounce back from their Copa del Rey final defeat on penalties by Real Sociedad last weekend to build morale.

Diego Simeone's side are comfortable in fourth in La Liga and the coach played mostly a reserve side to rest his star names after the draining cup final.

Nicolas Gonzalez struck twice for the visitors but Elche prevailed with a brace from Andre Silva and a goal from David Affengruber, boosting their survival hopes.

Argentina winger Gonzalez opened the scoring after Rodri Mendoza backheeled the ball to him on the edge of the box.

Elche pulled level when Affengruber prodded past Jan Oblak and then the defender was instrumental in his team's next goal.

Atletico played an hour with 10 men after Thiago Almada was dismissed in the 30th minute for pulling back Affengruber inside the area after losing the ball to the Elche man.

Silva sent Oblak the wrong way from the spot to put the hosts ahead, but Atletico levelled almost immediately through a superb effort from Gonzalez.

The winger just managed to keep the ball in, lifted it over Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro and headed home.

Affengruber desperately hacked the ball away but a VAR review decided it had crossed the line.

Silva won it for Elche with 15 minutes remaining, blasting home from close range after Oblak had saved Affrengruber's header at a corner and the defender managed to get the ball back into the danger area.

Victory takes Elche provisionally 15th, two points above the drop zone.

G.Tsang--ThChM