Malaga claim a comeback victory at struggling Elche

Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto scored a magnificent winner within seconds of coming on as a substitute as Malaga claimed a 2-1 comeback victory at struggling Elche.

The hosts had taken the lead in first-half injury time thanks to a disputed headed goal by David Lomban that looked to be offside, but Malaga hit back just after the break through Ignacio Camacho, and then Luis Alberto hit the winner with 13 minutes left.

The result sees Javi Gracia's side move up to seventh and go level on points with the teams in the Europa League places, while Elche stay rooted to the bottom of the table.

Malaga made the far stronger start to the game and tested Elche goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton four times in the opening 20 minutes, while the hosts eventually managed to settle into the game.

As ever, Elche's main threat came from top scorer Jonathas de Jesus, who twisted his way into the area and past two Malaga defenders before shooting, but Marcos Angeleri got in the way to force a corner.

The Argentine centre-back came to his team's aid again a minute before the break when the ball fell to Faycal Fajr after Carlos Kameni had flapped at a cross, blocking the French midfielder's goal-bound effort.

Malaga's best chance of the half arrived a few minutes before half-time when Ricardo Horta volleyed at goal from close range, but Tyton managed to tip the ball over the bar.

Elche took a surprise and controversial lead right on the stroke of half-time. The hosts had won a disputed foul for a challenge by Duda on Fajr, and the midfielder got up to swing the resulting free-kick into the area.

The line of Malaga defenders all pushed up simultaneously to play the offside trap and Lomban rose unmarked to head in at the near post, but - to the horror of the visiting side - the linesman's flag stayed down.

Malaga managed to get back on level terms just a few minutes into the second half. Samuel Castillejo raced down the wing to the left-hand side of the box and cut the ball back to the six-yard area as Camacho leaped across the near post to volley past Tyton.

Malaga refused to settle for a point and immediately went for the winner. Castillejo shot over the bar twice in the space of a couple of minutes and then Darder managed to hit the target, but was thwarted by Tyton.

Aaron Niguez came on to replace Victor Rodriguez midway through the second half and immediately had the ball in the net, but was correctly ruled offside.

The midfielder almost scored a legitimate goal only a few minutes later, heading a Domingo Cisma cross towards goal but Kameni tipped the ball onto the bar and away.

Instead, it was a different substitute who found the winner.

Luis Alberto replaced Darder in the 77th minute and with his first touch controlled the ball from Recio - another substitute - just ahead of the halfway line, then wormed his way past a sea of Elche players on the edge of the area to drive the ball low into the bottom corner.