0-7: A winning start to pre-season!

Vicente Moreno's UD Almería got good vibes in their first pre-season friendly in which they thrashed Club Polideportivo El Ejido 7-0 at the Santo Domingo Stadium. The gaffer chose two different starting XIs in each half, both with players from the past season, some of the 'B' team youngsters and summer signing Édgar's debut. 

 

Luis Suárez and Marciano grabbed a brace each. Ramazani, Lázaro and Embarba also found the back of the net. The squad will have a break this Wednesday and Thursday morning. Then, the travelling squad will set off for Benahavís to start their pre-season training camp. 

 

New head coach Vicente Moreno, who brought twenty-nine players to El Ejido to face this first friendly, opted for a starting XI in which Édgar González made his debut as a Rojiblanco, the only summer signing made until the moment along with Luis Suárez, who was lined up as a defensive midfielder, one of the positions in which he can operate in which he demonstrated his excellent passing accuracy. 

 

From the get go, UD Almería commanded with football of great touch in the midfield and looking at all times to reach the final third. The 0-4 with which the break was reached is a reflection of the Rojiblancos' superiority, on the one hand, due to two sides who compete in different tiers, and on the other, due to the good vibes transmitted by Vicente Moreno's group. Despite being the first friendly and having started the off-season preparations not long ago, the players did not struggle at the back, they were solid in the midfield and the attackers were effective up front. Even Rodrigo Ely nearly netted the fifth on the edge of half-time.

 

In the second half, Vicente Moreno picked out a totally different line-up, although on this occasion, two 'B' team players Avelino and Marciano, who stood out with his superb brace, played from the start. As in the first period, UD Almería bossed things and took control, they extended their advantage with a couple of goals at the hands the young striker, who caught the eye of Atlético de Madrid, although the opportunities kept coming as the minutes passed. 

 

Arnau Puigmal and Dyego Sousa could also have scored in El Ejido, yet Embarba, with his fancy footwork, was the one slamming in the seventh to seal a big win this summer.

 

Match information:

 

CP El Ejido: Valentin; Vertiz, Pablo Fernandez, Antelo, David Montes; Eteki, Tomás Cruz, Manu Sarmiento; Paquito, Jaime Lorente and Dango. Subs Neil, Chey, Pablo Montes, Alex Medina, José Antonio, Brian, Mel Jovino, Gnangoro, Nasser, Rubén Figueroa and Jorge Vitales also played.

 

UD Almeria: Fernando; Mendes, Kaiky, Rodrigo Ely, Akieme; Édgar, Gui; Ramazani, Robertone. Lázaro; and Luis Suarez. In the second half, Mariño; Pozo, Chumi, Babić (Iván Martos, 84'), Alex Centelles; Eguaras, Avelino (Marcos Peña, 84'), Arnau Puigmal; Marciano, Dyego Sousa (Marezi, 84') and Embarba. 

 

Referee: José Antonio Villalobos, from the Almeria referee committee. He booked Eteki, Alex Medina and José Antonio, from CP El Ejido, and Akieme, from UD Almería.

 

Goals: 0-1 (20'). Luis Suárez's opener from a well-taken shot from a wide position, after a play by Ramazani down the wing left. 0-2 (37'). Luis Suárez. 0-3 (39'). Ramazani picked up Robertone's great assist. 0-4 (41'). Lázaro, 0-5 (48'). Marciano slots home a rocket goal from the edge of the area. 0-6 (54'). Marciano finishes off a cross from Alex Centelles. 0-7 (85'). Embarba slammed the seventh goal from within the box.

 

Observations: First pre-season game for UD Almería played at the Santo Domingo Stadiums in El Ejido, where there were numerous fans in the stands. The hosts put up a banner in support of Turki Alalshikh, who has recently undergone surgery In New York. In the director's box, the Poli El Ejido management were accompanied by UD Almería Managing Director Mohamed El Assy and some other Club members from the board of directors and management such as Ibrahim Ewis, João Gonçalves and Mariano Blanco.