Football can be wonderful and it can be very cruel at times. UD Almería found that out the hard way last Friday night against RC Celta de Vigo. They did not deserve to lose, but ended up defeated in the worst possible way. They headed down the tunnel trailing 0-2 even though they fashioned big chances. The Rojiblancos came back from behind twice in the second half in spectacular fashion, they were the side closer to breaking the deadlock in two one-on-one situations against the rival goalkeeper and in the dying embers of the match, they fell defeated to the Galicians. Be that as it may, mistakes capitalised upon by them, then the Indálicos failed to convert chances, when eventually Celta did.

 

Head coach Vicente Moreno made some changes to the Starting XI, one forced by the sending-off of Édgar, and others to try to derive substantial benefit such as Melero's starting spot. Also, Robertone and Ramazani started for UD Almería to dance through the defence. Up front, Celta de Vigo, as expected, played with three central defenders and two full-backs, a defensive wall difficult to knock down. UD Almería, despite their constant efforts, could not find a way to defeat Vigo and although both outfits exchanged chances, the Celestes were more attacking-wise and dispatched the ball into the opponents’ goal twice to go into the break in the front. With 23 gone, Núñez finished off at the far post by looping a header, following a free-kick taken from the right flank (0-1). Then, after 32 minutes, Larsen opted to put on his laces through a shot as he received a well-timed cross taken from a wide position (0-2).

 

Despite the harsh punishment, UD Almería did not give up and on minutes 41 and 45, the hosts squandered two very clear opportunities. In the first one, Embarba's cross from the right wing was headed in by Melero at the far post but went inches wide. In the second, a sublime pass from Baba to Ramazani finished with a shot that brushed the post. It was 0-2 at half-time.

 

At the beginning of the second half, Koné replaced Embarba looking for greater strength in attack. UD Almería walked onto the pitch willing to achieve the comeback. They plucked up the courage when passing the ball in the positional attack or counter-attacks. 8 minutes into the restart, Akieme reduced the deficit after Melero's delivery (1-2); in the 60th minute, Luis Suárez nearly grabbed the second, yet this arrived shortly after within 67 minutes; sometimes the assist outshines the goal and Arribas, who had just entered the pitch, picked up Ramazani's superb assist to the delight if the fans. The fans went even crazier when Koné, inside 73 minutes, and again Arribas, in the 76th minute, staged two one-on-one situations against the rival goalie, but Mr Villar palmed their efforts away. That could have been the key to the game...

 

The LaLiga EA Sports encounter, in its final minutes, came into a spell of alternate dominance; both sides went back and forth, up the pitch. Maximiano did pull off a pair of brilliant saves, however with 86 minutes on the clock, he could not avoid the Celtistas' third. Swedberg's goal sealed a 2-3 victory when the match seemed closer to 3-2. What a shame! 

 

 

UD Almería: Maximiano; Pubill (Pozo, 88'), Chumi, Kaiky, Akieme; Robertone, Baba (Lopy, 66'); Ramazani, Melero (Arribas, 66'), Embarba (Koné, 46') and Luis Suárez (Baptistão, 90'). 

 

RC Celta de Vigo: Ivan Villar; Mingueza, Núñez, Starfelt, C. Domínguez (Aidoo, 89'), Manu Sanchez; Fran Beltran, De la Torre; Iago Aspas (Douvikas, 88'), Larsen (Swedberg, 69') and Bamba (Tapia, 90').

 

Goals: 0-1 (23'). Nuñez, with a header at the far post, finishes off a free-kick taken by Iago blades. 0-2 (32'). Larsen, cross taken from a wide position. 1-2 (53'). Sergio Akieme, inside the box, after a pass from Melero. 2-2. (67') Sergio Arribas picked up a great assist by Ramazani. 23 (86') Swedberg. 

 

Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea, from the Basque Referees Association. He booked Marc Pubill, on behalf of UD Almería and Manu Sanchez, from Celta de Vigo. 

 

Observations: Matchday 4. LaLiga EA Sports. Game played at the Power Horse Stadium with 14,196 spectators in the stands.