Bitter defeat for Córdoba CF on the island of La Palma, which once again eliminates them from the Copa del Rey in a recurring first-round impossibility. After a first half in which they led on the scoreboard and put on a serious performance against a Segunda Federación team like Atlético Paso, the script of the match took a dramatic turn in the second half and ended with a local comeback (3-1). A blanquiverde team that lost all the good signs from the first 45 minutes. Since January 2021 against Getafe, Córdoba has not advanced past the first round of the cup.

Córdoba CF tried to avoid surprises in the first half on a narrow field with artificial turf, unfamiliar to the blanquiverdes. An unprecedented attack with Víctor and Ibai, and El Jebari and Enol on the wings, precisely the area where Ania's team sought danger at the start of the match. In the 5th minute, they had a clear chance to take the lead with a pass from Enol on the right that Salim El Jebari shot just wide of the goal.

After that opportunity, the locals overcame the blanquiverde pressure with long balls towards the area or by looking for lateral passes for second plays, or by taking advantage of some defensive errors by Córdoba CF. However, in the 25th minute, they had another chance to score from a tight corner that Escribano managed to clear.

It was during this phase that a local error in ball distribution was exploited in the final third by Thèo, who delivered a pass to Ibai in the area. Ibai chipped the ball over the Paso goalkeeper to give Córdoba CF the lead. There were no major scares, thanks to solid work in the midfield by Damián and Thèo. A serious performance on the field.

Even so, the team from La Palma gained momentum in the final stretch of the first half with several dangerous attacks, exploiting the space behind Nelson and Rubén. Their best chance came in the 39th minute with a direct free kick from Borao that forced a great save from Guilherme.

After the break, Córdoba tried to control the game with more possession and a slower pace, while El Paso stayed back, well-positioned for counterattacks. In the 51st minute, the locals gave their first warning. But the key moment came in the 62nd minute: the expulsion of Iván Ania for touching the ball before it went out of bounds, according to the Madrid referee Manuel A. Pérez.

While television replays suggested the ball had gone out, the referee did not interpret it that way and sent the blanquiverde coach off. In the subsequent free-kick, the equalizer came after a clearance by Guilherme that Villoslada capitalized on from a tight angle, in what appeared to be a questionable offside position.

From that point on, Córdoba experienced their worst minutes, looking completely disjointed compared to the first half. Víctor had a chance to make it 1-2 in the 72nd minute, but the Paso goalkeeper saved it. Bri replaced El Jebari, but another local counterattack, with a shot from Villoslada and a save by Guilherme, was converted by Aythami to make it 2-1 in the 76th minute.

César Negredo brought on Carracedo and Ghailan to try to find a late equalizer, but the danger remained at the blanquiverde goal as the team pushed forward. Fran Rivera had a chance to make it 3-1 in the 80th minute. In the six minutes of added time, a mistake by Thèo in midfield led to another counterattack with the same pattern: a shot by Álex Martínez, a save, and Aythami capitalizing on the rebound to seal the final 3-1 scoreline.

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CD Atlético Paso
Escribano, Borao, Vilaplana, Pezzolesi, Muñoz (Cidrés), Perdomo (Aythami), Fran Gómez (Fran Rivera), Casais (Álex Martínez), Felipe, Villoslada (Castaño), Roque

Córdoba CF
Guilherme, Egoitz, Nelson Rubén Alves, Albarrán, Damián, Thèo, Enol (Carracedo), El Jebari (Bri), Ibai, Víctor (Ghailan)

Referee: Manuel Ángel Pérez (Madrid)
Estadio Municipal El Paso
First round of the Copa del Rey

Goals
(0-1) Ibai, minute 29
(1-1) Villoslada, minute 64
(2-1) Aythami, minute 76
(3-1) Aythami, minute 94