1-0: Almería slip up at Las Gaunas
The Logroñés are brave to impose their game. Disallowed goal to debutant Umar Sadiq in injury time
UD Almería ended up 'slipping up' in their away match against UD Logroñés and suffered their second defeat of the season. Almería had to play on a pitch that caused the players to continuously lack effective passing. So that, with a hosting team from the region of La Rioja who were more fierce, a goal at hands of Andy in the final stretch made the Rojiblancos - in yellow and purple as they wore their third kit at Las Gaunas – returned home empty handed. Although in the opening minutes the Indalicos had more possession and tried to take the initiative, the hosts knew how to better adapt to the conditions of the grass to gain presence on the area defended by keeper Fernando. So much so that, in the 14th minute, Logroñés were determined to be in front afterfinding the net first, yet the goal was disallowed because the VAR warned the referee that it was a handball.
José Gomes picked a different starting XI as a result of the 'FIFA virus' affecting the squad due to the fact that three players are away on international duty with their national teams. In this sense, Fernando was in charge of defending the goal, while centre-backs Peybernes and debutant Chumi were handed spots. The formation chosen was pretty much the same as in the two previous appointments.
As time began to wind down, the game became uncomfortable for Almeria somehow. The idea was clear: to display a performance as good as in the last two matchdays, but productivity on the pitch was slipping noticeably. In addition, the opponents knew well how to prevent the visiting side from being able to create chances easily, so in the first-half the only highlight was, on 45 minutes, with Villalba and Lazo teaming up until the shot from the Sanlúcar de Barrameda-born player grazed the post.
After the interval, the Portuguese head coach reacted by introducing a double substitution with João Carvalho and Umar Sadiq coming on for Fran Villalba and Juan Villar. However, UD Logroñés continued to read the contest well at the start of the second-half. Therefore, after the ball played a trick on César de la Hoz, Sadiq tried his luck by rifling a shot. Given that, the midfielders did not seem to be connecting with the offensive game, José Gomes made changes on the bench once more with the additions of Robertone and Olivera taking over Samú and Lazo.
Little by little, the Northerners were pressing high upfield and the biggest proof came in the 77th minute when Andy managed to beat Fernando to make it one-nil following an impressive play by the Riojanos.
With the disadvantage on the scoreboard, the presence of UD Almería pressing on the opposite side of the field of play in the final stretch was obvious. Nonetheless, Logroñés were still very involved and it was almost impossible for them to grant a chance. With 93 minutes on the clock, Umar Sadiq scored the equaliser, yet it would not be a tie, since, after checking it on the VAR, the referee came to the decision that he helped himself with his hand on the ball control. Thus, after the final whistle, it was confirmed that Almería suffered their second defeat of the 2020/21 season.
As José Gomes warned in the previous one, it was going to be important to give one hundred ten percent to overcome a fierce side, who ended up outplaying the visiting team and bagging the three points at stake in Las Gaunas.