Cádiz Steal Victory Despite Late Zaragoza Fightback

The floodlights illuminated a tense atmosphere at Ibercaja Estadio as Real Zaragoza welcomed Cádiz for what promised to be a crucial Segunda División encounter. The home faithful packed the stands, sensing their side needed maximum points to climb the table. However, their hopes were dashed as Cádiz secured a dramatic 1-2 victory that showcased both clinical finishing and resolute defending under intense late pressure.

The visitors struck twice in a devastating 18-minute spell that left Zaragoza reeling. First, disaster struck for the hosts in the 59th minute when Aleksandar Radovanovic deflected the ball into his own net, gifting Cádiz an unexpected opener. The away supporters had barely finished celebrating when Moussa Diakité doubled their advantage in the 65th minute, rifling home a composed finish that seemed to put the game beyond Zaragoza's reach. The Malian midfielder's celebration was subdued but purposeful, knowing his strike had given his side a commanding position.

Zaragoza's tactical response came through a flurry of substitutions, with Alberto Rodríguez and Dani Tasende introduced at the hour mark to inject fresh energy into their faltering campaign. The home side dominated possession with 59.2% of the ball but struggled to convert their territorial advantage into clear-cut opportunities. Cádiz defended with discipline and organization, frustrating their hosts with compact defensive lines and quick transitions.

Despite controlling the tempo, Zaragoza managed just one shot on target compared to Cádiz's six, highlighting their struggles in the final third. The visitors accumulated 21 fouls to Zaragoza's 13, disrupting the rhythm whenever the hosts threatened to build momentum. Mario Climent and Moussa Diakité both collected yellow cards as Cádiz employed tactical fouling to break up dangerous attacks.

The turning point arrived in the 77th minute when substitute Alberto Rodríguez pulled one back for Zaragoza, sending the home crowd into raptures and setting up a frantic finale. The defender's goal transformed the atmosphere completely, with the Ibercaja Estadio suddenly believing in an unlikely comeback. Seven minutes later, Cádiz goalkeeper produced a crucial penalty save to deny Iza, preserving their slender advantage as tensions reached boiling point.

The final minutes descended into chaos as both Dani Tasende and Alfred Caicedo received yellow cards in stoppage time, epitomizing the desperate nature of Zaragoza's late assault. Despite their best efforts and Mario Soberón's booking reflecting their attacking urgency, the hosts couldn't find the equalizer their possession statistics perhaps deserved.

Looking ahead, both teams face crucial fixtures that could define their seasonal ambitions. Zaragoza must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next league encounter, needing to convert their territorial dominance into goals. Meanwhile, Cádiz will take tremendous confidence from this hard-fought away victory as they continue their campaign, knowing that defensive resilience and clinical finishing remain their strongest weapons in the promotion battle.