3-2: Almería dreaming again of automatic promotion
The Rojiblancos performed a great first-half while learned how to resist in the second-half. The score was 3-0 at half-time
Once again, UD Almeria dreamed of automatic promotion after coming off with a victory against Rayo Vallecano. The Almería squad took the lead during a great first-half making it 3-0 before the break, and then they knew how succeed in order to bag the three points in the 3-2 final score.
The first-half was one of the best of the entire season for UD Almería. The Rojiblanco side came out on their home turf without complex issues in search of the opposing goal line and dominated the game versus Rayo Vallecano completely, to the point that Almeria were the absolute winners of the match.
It was not long before our contenders took the lead and, in addition, they did it brilliantly, since left-winger Lazo was in charge of materialising a direct free-kick from more than 30 metres away. The powerful shot with 8 minutes gone surprised rival goalie Dimitrievski, who could not do anything to avoid the 1-0.
UD Almería were more than ready to do their very best on the Juegos Mediterraneos’ pitch, as it was a golden chance to, once more, sit just one point adrift from automatic promotion to the Spanish top-flight. Thereby, things could not get any better in the 19th minute, as after the spectacular start, striker Darwin Núñez beat Saveljich thanks to a wonderful shot after tricking a defender. The Uruguayan doubled the lead by putting his name on the scoresheet.
The first period was remarkable. However, on a negative note, goalkeeper Fernando came down with an injury and had to come off the pitch. Beyond this unfortunate situation, there was only one team keenly contesting on the field of play: Almería. So much so that centre-forward Juan Muñoz made it 3-0 after receiving a great pass from Argentinian Vada. It was the 29th minute and from there until the interval the consistency of the Almería’s players would be outstanding.
After the restart, the Rayo Vallecano’s head coach made three changes at a stroke and refreshed his team. In this sense, the side from Madrid, who have a highly talented squad, improved way far, came back stronger determined to stage a comeback from the dressing room and proved it by making it 3-2 thanks to a brace scored by opponent Juan Villar within ten minutes.
The UD Almería backroom team decided to switch Vada to Petrovic with the firm objective of regaining consistency in midfield, which had been largely lost because the visitors were fully controlling the second-half opening minutes.
Things were going slightly wrong after the break; our team were being dominated and the Almería players started to feel pressure. While from the bench they were looking for reactions with some changes in the starting XI—Villalba and Francis came on for Appiah and Juan Muñoz— the visitors frightened the hosts after Tito’s failed shot as a result of a foul.
Almería knew how to hold it against Rayo in the final stretch to keep the three points. With Rayo Vallecano going all out to score and the red and white defenders parking the bus -and attempting to counterattack - the final whistle confirmed the 3-2 much-needed victory leaving Almeria just one point adrift from automatic promotion keeping the First Division dream alive.