3-1: Almeria pin their faith on perseverance to overcome competitive Malaga
The Rojiblancos work their socks off to strengthen their hold on the VIP zone that leads to promotion
Although it was necessary to work their socks off, UD Almería notched up a new home victory in LaLiga SmartBank to strengthen their hold on the VIP zone that leads to promotion. The Rojiblancos pinned their faith on perseverance to overcome competitive Malaga, who managed to tie after Umar Sadiq’s opener and just before half-time. During the last 45 minutes, not only the hosts ended up breaking the deadlock but also extending their lead courtesy of Maraš and Ramazani’s goals.
The team led by José Gomes got off to a superb start. As a result, it was not necessary to wait too long for striker Umar Sadiq to make it 1-0. With nearly ten minutes gone, Fran Villalba took advantage of a blunder from the Malagueños and provided the Nigerian with a fantastic assist to be on the front foot.
Almeria dominated the visitors during these first minutes of play. Based on plenty of fluidity in their game, the boys in red and white were approaching the shooting third. A play that started on the left wing ended with a strike from Aketxe and a great save from goalie Dani Barrio.
Defending a goal is not all roses and after 28 minutes Makaridze was forced off the pitch following thigh pain. The Georgian keeper could not continue and reliable Fernando was more than ready to be subbed.
There was a quarter of an hour to go to half-time. Nobody would expect that the advantage was about to be in danger given that Málaga did not create big chances. However, time went by and the visitors gained momentum until Joaquín got hopes up and made it 1-1 in the stoppage time added to the opening 45 minutes.
José Gomes made the second substitution as soon as he returned from the dressing rooms. Lazo came on for Fran Villalba. Of course, it was the visitors’ turn to start better after the restart to the point of managing to send several crosses into the box. On a negative note, the neighbours did not find the back of the net.
Almería shook off the rivals’ momentum and regained ball possession, yet without succeeding in finding their way to play somebody in. A reaction was sought from the bench again when Ramazani and João Carvalho replaced José Corpas and Aketxe.
It was a neck-to-neck meeting. In the first place, a cross from Akieme forced Dani Barrio to reach in to send the ball away to a corner. Shortly after, netminder Fernando was put to the test making two consecutive sensational saves against attempts at hands of Joaquín and Ramón. There was still room for Malaga’s goalie to appear again with a good stretch in Lazo’s attempt from close range. It was the 75th minute.
Both Andalusian sides were battling it out to untie and the Rojiblancos made sure that the points would not be shared out. After the corner resulting from the previous opportunity, the centre-backs stayed in the attacking third and international Maraš headed a cross from the right wing.
José Gomes ran out of changes after the second goal by benching Umar Sadiq and non-starting experienced Petrovic coming on to protect the heart of everything. It was time to seal the victory and the Indalicos staged a counter-attack in which Carvalho assisted Largie Ramazani, who put his name onto the scoresheet (3-1).
After defeating Zaragoza last Wednesday, UD Almeria clinched two consecutive victories under the Juegos Mediterráneos lights, allowing the Rojiblancos to strengthen their hold onto the VIP zone and keep on fighting for automatic promotion before visiting Espanyol next Sunday.