2-1: Almería ‘B’ get through to mini-league for promotion to ‘Segunda Division RFEF’
Goals courtesy of Ramazani and Caballero seal passage after beating Torreperogil. Vélez, Antequera and El Palo, the next rivals
The UD Almería ‘B’ team got through to the mini-league for promotion to Segunda Division ‘B’—which will be renamed Segunda Division RFEF next season— after coming second in fourth-tier Group IX ‘A’. Goals courtesy of Ramazani and Raúl Caballero sealed passage to the next phase in which the youthful Rojiblancos will face Vélez, Antequera and El Palo aiming to move into a higher league. Mancha Real and Torredonjimeno will also be promotion contenders, but they will not battle it out against Almeria ‘B’ following their results of the first half of the campaign.
Fernando Santos included keeper Wellington in the starting line-up for the first time ever. It was an offensive formation formed by Siles, Cerpa, Aitor Puñal, Fermín, Robles, Dani Albiar, Cristian Olivera, Ramazani, Caballero and Jordi Escobar.
The youngsters from Almeria got off to a perfect start on the Anexo Juegos Mediterraneos lawn. Even though Fermín 5-minute shot was denied by the crossbar,
Torreperogil saw how the homegrown players were taking advantage of each space left to get ahead in the high-stakes match. Debutant Wellington’s goal-kick found Raúl Caballero and the centre-forward provided Largie Ramazani with an ingenious assist. The Belgian, as usual, made no mistake in front of the goalkeeper and drilled home to open the scoring (1-0).
After the restart there would be an opportunity for each team. CD Torreperogil were going all out for a victory so as to occupy Almeria ‘B’ and Virgilio wanted to make sure of that but his strike hit the woodwork, while immediately afterwards, Ramazani failed to find the net in a one-on-one situation.
It did not give the impression that the triumph of the Indalicos was on the line, however, Javi Quesada made the most of an offensive well-crafted play by the Jaén-based side after 64 minutes to draw level (1-1).
A possible comeback was not feared anymore from the 74th minute as Jean Marco ran down the right wing and the ball ended up at the feet of Raúl Caballero. The Almería ‘B’ 7-goal top scorer put his name on the scoresheet to make it 2-1.
With this victory, the UD Almería ‘B’ team will play the mini-league for promotion to the Segunda Division RFEF, which is to kick off next weekend. The Almeria Academy hopefuls came second in Subgroup ‘A’ and will have to take on Vélez, Antequera and El Palo, from Subgroup ‘B’ in a two-legged football games.
The Club coefficient from the first half of the campaign has been used to rank the youthful teams: Vélez (2,06); Mancha Real (1,80), Antequera (1,67), Almería ‘B’ (1,65), Torredonjimeno (1,65) and El Palo (1,56). The first two at the end of all the home and away games - without the teams from the same subgroup facing each other again- will move up to a higher league next season.
Match facts:
UD Almería ‘B’: Wellington; Siles, Cerpa, Aitor Puñal, Fermín, Robles, Dani Albiar (Juan Gutiérrez, 88’), Cristian Olivera (Tomás, 57’), Ramazani (Sergio Sanchís, 76’), Caballero (Hugo Neves, 88’) and Jordi Escobar (Jean Marco, 57’).
CD Torreperogil: Pozo; Tomás, Edu Olea (Miguel Navas, 77’), Sergio García, Nice, Rubén Peces, Álex Martínez (Sanabria, 77’), Javi Quesada, Fran (Miguel Ángel, 77’), Pedro (Ángel, 50’) and Virgilio.
Goals: 1-0, 24’: Ramazani. 1-1, 64’: Javi Quesada. 2-1, 74’: Caballero.
Referee: Aranda Delgado, from the Malaga Referees School. He booked Cristian Olivera from Almería ‘B’, as well as Edu Olea and Fran, from CD Torreperogil. Similarly, he sent off Nice in the 75th minute, with a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on a home team footballer. Visitor’s head coach Antonio Torres was also shown a yellow card.
Observations: last matchday of the first half competing in Tercera Division Group IX ‘A’. The match was played behind closed doors at the Anexo Juegos Mediterraneos.