4-0: First pre-season victory for UD Almería
Player of the match Lazo with a hat-trick fires the Rojiblancos to victory. Portillo debuts
UD Almería thrashed Atlético Pulpileño in their second pre-season friendly (4-0). José Carlos Lazo, who came on after 67 minutes, put in a brilliant performance scoring a hat-trick and adding one assist to his name. He fired the Rojiblancos to their first pre-season victory.
The Andalusian team led by head coach Rubi had to pull their socks up while wearing their new home kit presented the day before by the Club. With regard to footballers, Francisco Portillo wore the No. 10 shirt for the first time at UD Almeria.
The first half started with keeper Makaridze; Aitor Buñuel, Maraš, Juan Ibiza, Akieme, Samú Costa, Javi Robles, Portillo, Arnau Puigmal, Appiah and Sadiq Umar. Samú Costa’s shot grazed the post within just 9 minutes, while shortly after, goalie Héctor Pizana became strong in a one-on-one with Arnau.
The game was played in the scorching heat so both teams agreed to have water breaks. UD Almeria created more goal-scoring opportunities during the first 45 minutes showing fluidity and creativity in their game. Before the interval, a defender sent a shot from Maraš behind a corner, Sadiq missed a cross, and there would be a double chance in which the goalkeeper first and a central defender later, prevented the goals of Akieme and the Nigerian striker.
Rubi wanted to see more of his first period footballers in action, so he kept almost everyone on the Anexo Juegos Mediterraneos ground with the exception of Yanis Rahmani who took Arvin Appiah's starting spot. After the restart, UD Almería were the ones closer to put themselves in front on several occasions. Sadiq Umar wanted to beat keeper Héctor Pizana but the opponent, who was the best player in the Pulpileño side, made a superb save.
The Indalicos went down to 10 men on 63 minutes as the ref sent off Sadiq Umar with a straight red card for arguing with an adversary. This fact led the gaffer to restructure the way of playing. Taking advantage of another drinks break: Rosić between the sticks, Iván Martos, Robertone, Centelles, Lazo, Curro, Chumi, Juanjo Nieto and Ramazani.
It was then when the brilliant performance of José Carlos Lazo began, who scored the opener in the top corner inside 70 minutes, however it was not necessary to wait too long for him to make it 2-0. Just 5 minutes later, he put Raúl Ponce to the test with a goal attempt from approximately 32 yards.
UD Almería were finding spaces and two more goals would come soon. Lazo became the players of the match on 80 minutes, although he didn’t find the back of the net, he provided Ramazani with a creative assist to make it 3-0. On the verge of the friendly conclusion, the Cadiz-born player completed his hat-trick (4-0).
Match facts:
UD Almería: Makaridze; Aitor Buñuel, Maras, Juan Ibiza, Akieme; Samú Costa, Javi Robles, Arnau Puigmal, Francisco Portillo, Appiah and Sadiq Umar. Yanis Rahmani, Rosić , Iván Martos, Robertone, Álex Centelles, Lazo, Curro Sánchez, Chumi, Juanjo Nieto and Ramazani also played.
Club Atlectico Pulpileño: Héctor Pizana; Emilio Iglesias, Nacho Ruiz, Fran Martínez, Rubén Primo, Juan Martínez, Diego López, Cristo Martín, Álvaro Garrido, Areso and Parra. Mati, Cristo García, Juanra, Peli, Borja García, Raúl Ponce and Freire played too.
Goals: 1-0, 70’: Lazo. 2-0, 75’: Lazo. 3-0, 80’: Ramazani. 4-0, 85’: Lazo.
Referee: Pablo Morales Moreno from the Almeria Referees School. He sent off UD Almería striker Sadiq Umar with a red card in the 63rd minute. In addition, he booked Álvaro Garrido from Club Atlético Pulpileño.
Observations: UD Almeria’s second pre-season game played behind closed doors at the Anexo Juegos Mediterraneos. Before the kick-off, a minute of silence was held at the request of the referee trio in memory of Cordoba-born referee Carlos Roldán who has passed away.