The hosts had the first proper chance of the evening when Pacha Espino’s whipped cross evaded striker Choco Lozano. At the other end, debutant José Ángel Carmona saw his cross-cum-shot tipped over by the backpedalling Jeremías Ledesma, before Diego González shepherded behind another Espino ball intended for Lozano. However, after the resulting corner from Ocampo was only cleared back to him by Pere Milla, the Uruguayan punished the visitors, driving to the edge of the box and arrowing a brilliant strike from the left of the area into Édgar Badía’s top left-hand corner on seven minutes.
Statistically, Los Franjiverdes possess the worst attack and worst defence in Spain’s top flight this season, having scored 10 and conceded 34 coming into this contest. Cádiz, meanwhile, knew that a win here would rocket them up five places to 14th, and they could have doubled their advantage twice in quick succession. First, vice-captain Álex Fernández shovelled a clever through-ball into the path of Lozano, but the Honduras international fired wastefully off target, and then Iza Carcelén’s wicked volley crashed off Badía’s right-hand post. Elche sprang into life as Gerard Gumbau’s powerful drive was beaten away by Ledesma before Milla and Lucas Boyé struck the woodwork. However, it was Badía who was tested last before the break, palming Fernández’s sidefooted effort just about away from danger.
Ahead of the second period, Machín opted for a double change as Carlos Clerc and Milla were withdrawn for Lautaro Blanco and Fidel, but his team were struggling to apply much concerted pressure with Boyé toiling up front, finding the sidenetting from a free-kick just after the hour as another Gumbau long-range effort whistled over. Álvaro Negredo was among those introduced on 77 minutes in an attempt to seal victory for Cádiz, but Ponce soon levelled the contest unexpectedly with a bullet header from fellow substitute Blanco’s pinpoint left-wing cross.
Negredo almost diverted in a dramatic winner during a frantic ending as both goalkeepers had to be alert, but Elche held on for a draw that moves them to within 12 points of safety, while Los Piratas have leapfrogged Sevilla into 18th and are one point off 17th-placed Real Valladolid.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pacha Espino (Cádiz)
