3-3: UD Almería stay up in Primera Division!

UD Almería stay up in the Primera Division! The Rojiblancos drew 3-3 with RCD Espanyol de Barcelona to seal LaLiga Santander survival. They took the lead lead thanks to El Bilal Touré's header, but the hosts equalised three minutes later and from there, the Rojiblancos managed to level matters twice. 

 

The UD Almería starting XI was the same as in the last home fixture against Real Valladolid CF, but with striker El Bilal Touré, who was thought to miss the end of the season, playing No.9. 

 

The opening ten minutes were marked by a very well-drilled RCD Espanyol who were approaching Fernando Martínez's goal with great insistence and creating corner kicks, however resilient UD Almeria managed to put themselves in front thanks to a El Bilal Touré’s thumping header after a superb assist from Centelles.

 

This joy did not last long, since a couple of minutes later, Puado grabbed a side-footed curling effort to equalise. After this exchange of warnings, the game entered a phase without a clear dominating side, the Pericos continued to put a lot of pressure on UD Almería, yet Rubi's men also fashioned their chances, none of them were clear for both, so it was all square at half-time (1-1). 

 

The second half started in the worst possible way for he Indálicos. In  the 48th minute, Pierre Gabriel broke the deadlock, an unfavorable result for the Rojiblancos that came a complete shock as soon as the second period kicked off. Despite this setback, the lads from Almería were determined not to give up and quickly pulled their socks up engineering chances and in the 58th minute, Embarba found a leveller from within the box following a brilliant assist from Samú Costa. 

 

RCD Espanyol did not lower their arms either and piled the pressure on Rubi's team again, making the game really tough for them and 73 minutes in, Koleosho put the home team ahead again. This result left UD Almería weakened, but not disheartened as this team never gives up. With 83 minutes on the clock, Ramazani jumped onto the pitch, and shortly after, the Belgian cause a penalty that, after being reviewed by the VAR, would be converted by Adrián Embarba, who was really in his element in Barcelona. The Rojiblancos levelled matters again. UD Almería would stay up in the Spanish top-flight with that score.

 

During a lengthy stoppage time, there were moments of great uncertainty, but finally UD Almería held on to the result to guarantee LaLiga Santander status. UD Almeria never gives up! 

 

 

RCD Espanyol de Barcelona: Joan Garcia; Ronael Pierre (Óscar Gil. 63’), Montes, Calero (Simo. 46’), Brian Oliván; Puado, Expósito (Keidi Bare. 60’), Denis Suárez, Darder (Koleosho. 64’), Nico Melamed (Vini de Souza.78’) and Braithwaite. 

 

UD Almeria: Fernando; Pozo, Ely, Babić, Centelles (Akieme. 75’); Samú (Sousa. 75’), Melero (De la Hoz. 64’), Robertone; Embarba, Lázaro (Portillo. 64’) and El Bilal Touré (Ramazani. 83’) 

 

Goals: 0-1 El Bilal Touré (10’). 1-1 Puado (13’). 2-1 Pierre Gabriel (Min 48). 2-2 Embarba (58’). 3-2 Koleosho (73’). 3-3 Embarba (pen) (87’). 

 

Referee: Soto Grado. He booked hosts Oliván and Montes and visitors Pozo, Samú, Ramazani and Melero

 

Observations: LaLiga Santander Matchday 38. Game played at the RCD Stadium, in Cornellá (Barcelona) with around 14,000 attendees in the stands