2-1: Incredible defeat, but play-off hope is still alive
Despite creating many goal scoring chances, Almeria could not materialise a victory and end up losing to Ponferradina
UD Almería bid farewell to secure automatic promotion to the top-flight after suffering a disappointing defeat at the Ponferradina’s home turf. The Northern hosts took the lead and created big chances until they tied on the brink of half-time. It was in the second-half when the final 2-1 came, which leads Almería to enter the play-offs.
The players did not go wrong during the match, because with 8 minutes gone they had already enjoyed a good chance to score first in which keeper Manu denied striker Darwin and the ball kept on being intercepted by the opponents’ defence when Vada, first, and next Lazo, looked score the opener.
The Rojiblancos came out onto El Toralín playing offensively. This situation took its toll, since the long ball kicked by the goalie would end up being taken by rival Ivi, who made it 1-0. Both were cancelled at first because the linesman flagged offside but the VAR review validated the play in the end, so Almería had no choice but to fight back.
Far from showing a lack of confidence on the pitch for trailing before the break, the Almeria’s footballers looked for the equaliser. In this sense, there were several approaches that could have led to a tie. In the 33rd minute, Vada finished off Balliu cross-shot with a header that failed to find the back of the net, while, in the 41st, it was forward Juan Muñoz who almost got on the scoresheet thanks to Lazo’s assist.
Almeria were undoubtedly dominating the game and their reward would come after managing to bring the score level (1-1). A point apiece after a scintillating first-half thanks to that moment in which César de la Hoz initiated an effective offensive play, leaned on Balliu and the winger played Darwin Núñez in and the latter beat Manu García.
Already in the second-half, the Almeria side enjoyed a good opportunity when looking for breaking the tie. All eyes were on left-winger Lazo as he lost his one-on-one duel with the keeper, who was more successful. Vada was also down on his luck as he kicked high.
Ponferradina would then have good times. The hosts were reinforcing their presence on their home ground little by little to the point that, after 63 minutes, there was a great action from Yuri inside the box refusing to share the spoils. It was a morale-boosting 2-1 potential victory for the opponents. The final stretch was undeniably led by UD Almería playing high up the final third, although without finding a way to record a comeback.
Time was running out…and the conclusion of the clash confirmed the worst omens and that Huesca had won and, therefore, Almería had to bid farewell to automatic promotion to the First Division. Nonetheless, the Rojiblancos’ play-off hope is still alive.