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Match Reports
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.

Once inicial del Almería
Pozo suplió la baja de Marc Pubill
Melero volvió al once del Almería
Arribas lograba en el minuto 15 el gol del Almería que servía para empatar el partido
Los rojiblancos hicieron un muy buen partido, sobre todo en el segundo tiempo
Match summary
UD Almería
UD Almería
LALIGA HYPERMOTION · M43
1
-
2
UD Almería Stadium
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Line-ups
Fernando Martínez photo
13Fernando Martínez
13Aarón Escandell
Alex Pozo photo
17Alex Pozo85’
05Nacho Vidal
Álex Centelles photo
20Álex Centelles
04David Costas
Selvi Clua photo
23Selvi Clua
12Dani Calvo
Edgar González photo
03Edgar González
23Haissem Yousry Fouad Hassan66’
21Chumi
06Kwasi Sibo
12Léo Baptistão59’
Alemâo photo
09Alemâo66’
Dion Lopy photo
06Dion Lopy
20Jaime Seoane66’
Marezi photo
19Marezi60’
08Santi Cazorla81’
G. Melero photo
08G. Melero73’
Sergio Arribas photo
11Sergio Arribas85’
Substitutes
Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia
01Braat
Maximiano photo
01Maximiano
07Francisco Sebastián Moyano Jiménez
02Arnau Puigmal73’
10Francisco Portillo
04Kaiky85’
Paraschiv photo
14Paraschiv66’
Lazaro photo
07Lazaro60’
15Oier Luengo81’
Nico Melamed photo
10Nico Melamed59’
C. De La Hoz photo
17C. De La Hoz66’
16Aleksandar Radovanovic
18Paulino66’
Bruno Langa photo
24Bruno Langa
21Carlos Pomares87’
Gui Guedes photo
27Gui Guedes
Lucas Ahijado photo
24Lucas Ahijado
Rachad photo
28Rachad85’
27Álex Cardero
31Bruno Iribarne
30Marco Esteban
Marko Perovic photo
36Marko Perovic
Omar Falah photo
35Omar Falah
38Pedro Fidel Cedillo Segura
Goals
(0 - 1)
Nacho Vidal
13’
Sergio Arribas
15’
(1 - 1)
(1 - 2)
Nacho Vidal
92’
Match officials
Dámaso Arcediano Monescillo
Referee
Samuel Sanz Torcal
Lineman#1
Samuel García Aguilera
Lineman#2
Saúl Ais Reig
Fourth official
David Gálvez Rascón
VAR
Iván Caparros Hernández
AVAR