We recorded our first three points on the road this season with a 2-1 victory over SD Eibar at the Ipurúa thanks to goals from Dani Rodríguez and Take Kubo.
Vicente Moreno made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Getafe CF on Matchday 26, replacing the suspended Salva Sevilla with Aleksander Sedlar while Ante Budimir returned to the starting XI following a slight muscular issue in place of Lago Junior.
Almost snatching an early lead just minutes into a drizzly afternoon in the Basque Country, Cucho Hernandez drew the game’s first blood when his clever footwork on the edge of the box created enough space to force Marko Dmitrovic into a good save down low.
Los Ameros later gave us a reminder of their potency from set-pieces as Cote crashed a whipped free-kick against the crossbar to the relief of an outstretched Manolo Reina in the 12th minute.
The game appeared to be heading to half-time level with chances few and far between, but on the 42nd minute Dani Rodríguez’s crossed free-kick slipped past a mass of bodies in the area and crept in at the far post to cue pandemonium in the away end at the Ipurúa.
A matter of inches prevented Cucho from doubling our slender advantage just past the hour mark as following a period of neat interplay between Take Kubo, Lumor and Budimir, the Colombian dragged wide a cutback across the box.
Dani Rodríguez was next to try and kill of the game with 15 minutes remaining, and although a quick exchange with Cucho invited an effort at goal, the midfielder fired high and wide.
Our persistency would be rewarded in the 78th minute as Kubo received the ball on the edge of the box, shifted it onto his stronger right foot and rolled a strike in off the post for his third goal of a first professional season in Spanish football.
Former Mallorquinista Pedro Bigas managed to pull one back for the hosts in added time, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal as we held on for a vital three points in our fight for survival.
RCD Mallorca: Reina; Pozo, Valjent, Raíllo, Lumor; Baba, Sedlar, Dani Rodríguez, Kubo (82’), Cucho (85’), Budimir (72’)
Substitutes: Fabricio, Sastre, Pedraza, Ki (82’), Lago Junior (72’), Chavarría (85’), Febas
SD Eibar: Dmitrovic; Arbilla, Oliveira, Bigas, Cote; Cristóforo (75’), Diop (57’), Pedro León (57’), Orellana; Charles, Sergi Enrich
Substitutes: Escalante (75’), Sergio Álvarez, Edu Expósito (57’), Yoel, De Blasis (57’), Kike García, Rober Correa
Goals: Dani Rodríguez (42’), 0-1; Take Kubo (78’), 0-2; Pedro Bigas (93’), 1-2
