UD Melilla continued their impressive away form with a 2-1 victory over UD Torre del Mar in Group 9 of the Spanish Tercera División RFEF on September 20, 2026. The win keeps Melilla at the top of the table, while Torre del Mar remain in the relegation zone after a spirited but ultimately fruitless display at the Estadio Juan Manuel Azuaga.

Match Overview

Torre del Mar came into the match knowing they needed points to climb out of the bottom four, and they started brightly, taking a shock lead in the 18th minute through winger Pablo Sánchez, who cut inside from the left and curled a shot into the far corner. Melilla, unbeaten in their previous six, responded well and equalised just before half-time when striker Youssef El Amrani converted a penalty after a handball in the box. The second half was a tense affair, but Melilla's quality told as El Amrani grabbed his second of the game in the 78th minute, finishing calmly from a through ball by midfielder Álvaro Romero.

Key Moments

• 18' – Goal! Pablo Sánchez fires Torre del Mar into a surprise lead.
• 41' – Goal! Youssef El Amrani converts a penalty to level the score.
• 58' – Torre del Mar's goalkeeper Javier López makes a stunning double save to deny Melilla.
• 78' – Goal! El Amrani slots home his second after a slick Melilla move.
• 90+2' – Torre del Mar's last chance falls to substitute Mario Ruiz, but his header goes wide.

Tactical Story

Melilla manager Juan Sabas set his side up in a 4-3-3, with El Amrani as the focal point and wingers providing width. Torre del Mar, coached by Nacho Pérez, deployed a 4-4-2 and looked to press high early on, which paid off with the opening goal. However, as the game wore on, Melilla's superior fitness and technical ability allowed them to control midfield. The introduction of Romero on 65 minutes proved decisive, as his vision unlocked a tiring Torre del Mar defence.

Standout Players

Youssef El Amrani was the clear man of the match, scoring twice and leading the line with intelligence. Álvaro Romero changed the game after coming off the bench, while Melilla's centre-back pairing of David Sánchez and Mohamed Ben Ahmed dealt well with Torre del Mar's aerial threat. For the hosts, Pablo Sánchez was lively throughout, and goalkeeper Javier López kept the score respectable with several fine saves.

Season Impact

Melilla move to 24 points from 10 games, maintaining their two-point lead at the summit of Group 9. Torre del Mar stay 17th, three points from safety, and face a daunting trip to second-placed El Palo next week. Melilla, meanwhile, host mid-table side Huétor Vega as they look to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.