1-1: Football and referee ruling are unfair with Almería
VAR intervenes to award an incomprehensible penalty on 98 minutes that leads to a one-all draw. Morlanes grabs the opener after 90 minutes
An incomprehensible VAR decision takes its toll on UD Almería yet again and prevented them from picking up all three points against CD Leganés. In the strangest way that can ever be imagined, the referee ended up withdrawing from whistling a foul in favour of the Rojiblancos and awards the opponents a totally non-existent penalty in the 98th minute to help them equalise (1-1). Before that, the Indalicos staged an offensive game without having success in their attempts at goal until Morlanes scored the opener on 90 minutes (1-0).
Almería began very brightly and the created chances from the start. A few seconds after the kick-off, Lazo put goalie Asier Riesgo to the test. The Rojiblancos’ dominance was total and meant to last until the end since within a quarter of an hour, Rubén Pérez was sent off after following a dangerous tackle on a home team footballer.
With Jose Gomes’ men increasing their presence in the shooting third. Robertone’s driven effort was palmed away from danger. The countless attempts on target were constant and Juan Villar was fielded just before the interval to boost the side’s attack with two centre-forwards.
The second half arrived and with it the numerous goal-scoring opportunities. So much so that there were two very clear 50 minutes in. In the first of them, Juan Villar finished off a cross from Akieme over the crossbar, while, shortly after, Sadiq missed a sitter that unfortunately hit the woodwork.
UD Almería gained momentum progressively and did not stop looking for the opener against adversaries who parked the bus. As a result, José Gomes made a substitution up front in which Corpas and Fran Villalba occupied the starting spots of peers Brian Rodríguez and Balliu.
With 74 minutes on the clock, Riesgo made a great save to deny Akieme. Soon after, the goalkeeper was determined to keep a clean sheet in an attempt by Fran Villalba and immediately afterwards, the crossbar did its work in another powerful strike from Sadiq. The ball would not go in.
Almería peppered the goal but had to wait until the 90th minute to find the back of the net. The Andalusian players built up a new attack and Fran Villalba’s assist at the front of the box enabled team-mate Manu Morlanes to make it 1-0.
After countless clear-cut chances, three massive points belonged to Almeria. Out of the blue, the referee ruling was to take centre stage once more on the south coast. It was the 94th minute when a throw-in ended with Maraš jumping to clear and Bustinza collided with the Serbian. The on-field match official, with good judgment, called on a foul in favour of the hosts, however, the inexplicable decision was that the VAR —after three minutes review— ‘invited’ the ref to observe the play alleging a penalty that did not exist at all.
The on-field referee then, in a more incomprehensible way, awarded the visitors a penalty. It was the 98th minute and Juan Muñoz was in charge of converting from the spot to draw level (1-1). UD Almería were affected by another VAR decision yet again.