Every victory for Hércules CF comes with a fresh wave of misfortune. The three points never come without a price, and that is one of the main reasons the Alicante side has struggled to climb the table this season. After defeating Ibiza at the Rico Pérez, they now sit closer to seventh place — the final spot that grants access to the Copa del Rey. It would be a consolation prize for another campaign that will not be remembered fondly by the blue-and-white faithful.
Interestingly, the team currently holding that seventh spot is Algeciras, who happen to be Hércules’ next away opponent. The Alicante outfit trails the Andalusians by five points, meaning they must win at the Nuevo Mirador to keep any hope of qualifying for the next edition of the Copa del Rey, especially after missing out on this year’s tournament — the one won by Real Sociedad, who nearly crashed out at the Nuevo Pepico Amat, clinging on until the 95th minute.
If Beto Company’s squad wants to experience emotions like their neighbors, they need to win both remaining matches — three consecutive victories to close the season. But that is never easy. Already missing five confirmed players — Roger Colomina, Oriol Soldevila, Alejandro Sotillos, Javi Jiménez, and Alberto Toril — they now have to add Ben Hamed’s certain absence, as well as the likely losses of Josep Calavera and Nacho Monsalve.
The Cameroonian midfielder, who had been carrying several warnings, received his tenth yellow card of the season after pushing Ibiza’s David García from behind. García had just stolen the ball from Ben Hamed on the edge of the box — one of many lost possessions by the African pivot, who was forced to play with his back to goal without the necessary skills. The Sevillian forward, defending from the front, stripped the ball and launched a counterattack. Ben Hamed chased him and, just before the halfway line, shoved him to the ground, stopping the move to avoid more damage. At that moment, Hércules led 2-1, had a man advantage after goalkeeper Ramón Juan was sent off 20 minutes earlier, yet still did not control the game.
The referee wrote in his report: “In the 80th minute, Ben Hamed was cautioned for bringing down an opponent in a challenge for the ball, cutting off his advance and preventing a promising attack.” This is exactly what the broadcast shows, so the chances of any appeal to suspend the ban are very slim. Contact is clear, and the push from behind shows the player’s intent as he connected with the shoulder of the islanders’ attacker. Hércules would need irrefutable evidence to prove an obvious error in the official match report — which carries a presumption of truth before the Single Judge of Competition — and that requires proof that unequivocally, beyond reasonable doubt, shows the incident described did not occur. That is impossible given the broadcast footage.
Monsalve and Calavera could join the list of absentees, both suffering muscle problems. Neither finished the match — both were injured in the first half, each in the thigh, and neither due to contact from an opponent. The defender hurt himself with an awkward movement after a sprint, and the central midfielder after taking a shot. Both players await medical tests following Sunday’s rest day.
