2-2: UD Almería see their victory wiped out

It is a cliché, but also a reality in the case of UD Almería. The Rojiblancos clearly wasted their chances and ended up paying for it. They went into the break in front 1-0 after outplaying their rivals and creating numerous chances. In the 52nd minute they were up 2-0, and although Málaga CF fought back from 2-0 down to level things up (2-2), in the 89th minute Luis Suárez, the second-tier top scorer, hit the crossbar in a penalty shot. Incredible. 

 

Rubi changed the system from Gijón to return to a 4-2-3-1 with Pozo, who was positioned on the right wing ahead of Marc Pubill, Selvi and Lopy as ​​the double pivot and Arribas in front of them. In addition, Léo Baptistão was placed on the left wing and Centelles moved his position back to the side with respect to the match at El Molinón stadium.

 

UD Almería knew that they were hosting very combative opponents  so the team played with a lot of intensity, even though they knew how to overcome them. In fact, the Rojiblancos reigned superior during the opening half, they dominated and were close to going into the break with a much greater lead than 1-0.

 

The Indálicos put pressure on the Malaguistas perfectly and their game awareness was enough to win balls back. Furthermore, with quick transitions and hitting long balls, they easily make their presence felt in front of the final third. In the 9th minute, Baptistão warned after a delivery from Luis Suárez and after 11 minutes, he completed a play by receiving a long ball from Lopy. Arribas squandered chances on minutes 20 and 25, Luis Suárez in the 27th and 38th minutes again and Marc Pubill in the 39th minute. UD Almería rued missed chances but went down the tunnel up 1-0. 

 

7 minutes after the game restart, Rubi's men doubled their lead. Centelles crossed in from the left flank and Arribas, at the far post, finished off the goal (2-0) that seemed to put the Andalusian derby definitively on track, however that was not the case. In 5 minutes, the Banquicelestes surprisingly equalised. Dani Sánchez, in the 55th minute, sent a ball over Maximiano's goal, which he could do nothing about, and in the 60th minute Antoñito scored a last-gasp penalty.

 

From that moment on the match saw two evenly-matched sides with a UD Almería in a hurry, but with courage and a Málaga CF that knew how to play their tricks by looking for counter-attacks in some spells, and trying to break the deadlock in others. 

 

After a corner-kick, UD Almería clear penalty was awarded a penalty by the VAR. Luis Suárez kicked from 12 yards and hit the crossbar. Such bad luck! ... and one more Matchday without winning. The Rojiblancos now extend their unbeaten streak to 7 games which complicates UD Almería's situation a little more in the tight race for promotion to the top flight.