1-2: Football is very unfair and cruel to UD Almería
The Rojiblancos put in a brilliant performance, creating the best chances to secure the W, but in added time they suffer a defeat that makes their fight for promotion to Primera very difficult
Football has been very unfair and cruel to UD Almería in the first leg of the promotion play-offs semi-finals which ended 2-1 after the Rojiblancos deserved the W, creating the best chances and on top of that, they conceded the second in added time when it seemed they were closer to 2-1. The race for promotion has become extremely complicated for the Indálicos, although the return leg is still to be played on Wednesday.
Luis Suárez was replaced by Marezi and Marc Pubill by Pozo; Melero also regained a starting spot and his presence in midfield alongside Lopy and Selvi, who were back in the line-up, meant Arribas moved to the right wing, while Baptistão occupied the left. A team that stood up throughout and were able to react after Real Oviedo took an early lead. With 13 minutes on the clock, when Nacho Vidal made the most of a rebound from Fernando to open the scoring 0-1. In the 15th minute, Lopy won the ball back in midfield and Arribas, who was in the zone, equalised after being perfectly assisted by peer Marezi.
The opening half and the entire match, was electric and thrilling. The chances were countless, although in the first 45 minutes it was the Asturianos who had the most possession of the ball against a well-positioned, hard-working UD Almería squad that constantly threatened the opposing goal. Actually, the only chances they engineered were Sergio Arribas, whose shot on goal within 44 minutes went just wide and Léo Baptistão, who fired a powerful rocket from long range that was parried away by the keeper.
The second half was bossed by the Indálicos. They were outstanding, they dominated their rivals, they seized the initiative, they relentlessly pressured Real Oviedo's built-up play and they whipped in clear-cut chances that could have tipped the balance in their favour.
4 minutes into the second half, Melero from a corner-kick, headed the ball in and just as it seemed the ball was going in, a defender saved it surprisingly. Shortly after, in the 59th minute, Léo Baptistão was injured unfortunately and head coach Rubi also took off Marezi, bringing on Nico Melamed and Lázaro, who played as the No. 9. The Brazilian headed Centelles' cross against the woodwork in the 62nd minute and in the 83rd minute he wasted another chance following a mwell-timed assist from Arnau Puigmal.
It looked as though UD Almería could break the deadlock to make it 2-1; however, in a lucky play by Real Oviedo, Nacho Vidal grabbed the second 2-1 to earn the W when he headed a cross from the left inside the box. It was the 90+2' and the match was over down south.
