0-1: Almería ‘B’ edge their way past Loja to remain comfortable at the top of the table
The youth squad display sensational teamwork to beat Loja with a winner from Aitor Puñal
The UD Almería ‘B’ team clinched a victory again to add three more points. The youngsters’ brilliant teamwork led the team to win over Loja. With ten minutes on the clock, Aitor Puñal headed a corner-kick to score the winner (0-1). The Rojiblancos had enough opportunities for a better result, yet they had to pull their socks up when they went down to 10 men following Jordi Escobar’s red card on 73 minutes.
Fernando Santos ‘Nandinho’ decided to include new faces in the starting XI, highlighting the starting spots of Vertiz, after serving a one-game ban, debutant keeper Curro Harillo and also Juan Manuel Gutiérrez replacing Raúl Caballero. Curro left; Vertiz, Ricardo Carvalho, Manu Pedre, Fermín; Robles, Aitor Puñal, Siles, Cristian Olivera, Juan Manuel Gutiérrez and Jordi Escobar were the starters at Medina Lauxa.
Almería ‘B’ kept possession and displayed outstanding plays in the attacking third throughout the opening 45 minutes. In fact, it did not take Almeria ‘B’ too long to get ahead. Aitor Puñal made it 0-1 after heading a corner-kick with 10 minutes gone.
Although the game had just begun, the Almeria second-team continued to combine plays that brought them closer to the goal defended by Oscar, who prevented the lads in their away kits from extending their lead. He made a sensational intervention against a volley by Jordi Escobar.
Loja CD took a step forward after the restart, forcing the homegrown players to send balls out of the danger area on several occasions. Fernando Santos decided to restructure the team to deal with this situation by adding Dani Albiar and Jean Marco to the game, who replaced the Uruguayans Juan Manuel Gutiérrez and Cristian Olivera. The Granada-based team failed to equalise after hitting the crossbar in a direct free-kick.
The Academy products were doing a great job and created danger on their counter-attack. However, efforts had to be increased after the match official understood that a tackle by Jordi Escobar was worthy of a red card. It was minute 73 when the squad of ‘Nandinho’ went down to 10 men on the pitch. As a result, Almeria ‘B’ pulled their socks up to keep all three points.
The UD Almería Academy hopefuls knew how to seal their triumph to remain comfortable at the top of the table waiting for the next weekend to catch up on the league with the postponed match against Mancha Real. This appointment takes place on Sunday, 28 February (12,30 p.m. CET).
Match facts:
Loja CD: Óscar; Seco, Cobos, Lolo, Peso (Cata, 85’), Naranjo, M. Cobo, Ariza, Fabio (Rodelas, 65’), Sera (Juanfran, 75’) and Chava.
UD Almería ‘B’: Curro Harillo; Vertiz, Ricardo Carvalho, Manu Pedre, Fermín; Aitor Puñal, Robles (Luna, 91’), Siles (Caballero, 82’), Cristian Olivera (Jean Marco, 57’), Juan Manuel Gutiérrez (Dani Albiar, 57’) and Jordi Escobar.
Goal: 0-1, 10:’ Aitor Puñal.
Referee: Casas Martínez from Jaén. He booked Ariza and Cobos from Loja, as well as Manu Pedre, Vertiz, Curro Harillo, Ricardo Carvalho, Jean Marco and Aitor Puñal, from UD Almería ‘B’. In addition, he sent off Jordi Escobar with a red card in the 73 minute. He also booked Almería ‘B’ coach Fernando Santos.
Observations: Matchday 17. Group IX ‘A’. Tercera Division. The game was played at the Medina Lauxa ground (Loja).