ELCHE, Spain (Interstat) — Víctor Chust scored in the 19th minute and Elche held on despite playing with a man advantage for more than half the match to defeat Getafe 1-0 on Sunday in La Liga action at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

The victory gave Elche a 1-0-0 record in league play and across all competitions. Getafe fell to 0-1-0 in both categories.

Chust, a defender, put Elche ahead early when he finished a sequence that began with a pass from forward Álvaro Rodríguez and was completed with a feed from midfielder Martim Neto. The goal came after sustained pressure from the home side in the opening stages.

The match turned decisively in Elche’s favor in the 39th minute when Getafe defender Dakonam Djené was shown a straight red card, reducing the visitors to 10 men for the remainder of the contest. Djené’s dismissal left Getafe scrambling to reorganize defensively while trying to find an equalizer with a numerical disadvantage.

Elche controlled possession for long stretches after the red card but could not add to its lead. Getafe goalkeeper David Soria made several saves to keep his team within striking distance, but the Elche back line held firm.

The match grew increasingly physical in the second half. Yellow cards were issued to Getafe forward André Silva in the 66th minute, Elche forward Álvaro Rodríguez in the 69th minute, Elche midfielder Martim Neto in the 78th minute and Getafe forward Martín Satriano in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. The bookings reflected the heightened tension as Getafe pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

Getafe mounted a late surge in the final 15 minutes, sending numbers forward and forcing Elche goalkeeper Miguel San Román into action. San Román made a key save on a header from Satriano in the 85th minute and another on a long-range effort from substitute Carles Aleñá in the 90th minute. Despite the pressure, Elche maintained its defensive shape and saw out the victory.

Elche manager Eder Sarabia employed a disciplined approach, instructing his side to keep possession and absorb pressure after the red card. Getafe manager José Bordalás, known for his defensive organization, saw his team struggle to break down a well-structured Elche defense while playing a man down.

The lone goal of the match stood as the difference, giving Elche a winning start to its La Liga campaign. Getafe, meanwhile, will look to regroup after a difficult trip to the eastern coast of Spain.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Elche 1, Getafe 1, while Interstat’s ELO system gave Elche a 66.70 percent probability to win.