1-1: Despite tremendous work rate and commitment, UD Almería 'B' fail to earn promotion
The UDA Academy youngsters take the game to extra-time thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Rojas, but the draw disadvantage dumps them out
'Almería never give up' almost always grants good results and in the last round play-offs game, it enabled the boys from the 'B' team to stay alive until the very last minute, albeit the disadvantage of a draw after being worse ranked in the regular season made them head into the game in an unfavourable situation against Utebo FC, who in the end knew how to manage the game out better to achieve promotion and frustrate the youthful Indálicos. After trailing, Carlos Rojas showed his silky skills with a stoppage-time goal that took the crunch game to extra-time. However, the 1-1 did not change, so the UDA Academy side will remain in the Tercera Division RFEF next season.
UD Almería 'B' started pushing forward and, a few seconds later, they were about to score with a long ball in which Lokosa could not finish. Utebo FC opted for a deep defending and long balls while the Academy prospects from the south coast pulled the strings from the off against rivals engaged in uncountable fouls. However, Utebo FC took the lead in the 16th minute through a set-piece, in a doubtful situation, after a corner-kick that Marín headed first to continue the play and the ball found Pumareta who, located near the far post, he rolled the ball into the net.
As time began to wind down, UD Almería 'B' did not stop fighting fiercely and Vértiz, within 71 minutes tried his luck with a shot that Aarón Abad cleared for a corner-kick. Anyway, the lack of pinpoint precision and success in the final pass, when he had the ball, undermined the chances of tying the game. An action in injury time saw Carlos Rojas taking advantage of this fine attempt to peg them back (1-1).
Extra-time was dominated by the UD Almería 'B' lads against the Uteberos who parked the bus leaving no scoring options for Óscar Fernández's side. The Andalusians could not find a way to break the deadlock, who after being ranked lower in the regular season, meant that they were on the brink of moving up a tier and therefore, the next campaign they will have no choice but to continue in the Tercera Division RFEF.
Match Information:
Utebo FC: Aarón Abad, Félez, Alvira, Pomareta (Lucio, 113'), Machote; Víctor García (Pablo Aznar, 65'); Marín, Suárez (David Martínez, 46'), Adán Pérez (Capape, 105'), Villalba (Samu, 65') and Aldair Ruiz.
UD Almería 'B': Diego Fuoli, Vértiz, Alex Mendes, David Cuenca, Fermín (Núñez, 86'); Kevin Bautista, Aitor Puñal; Carlos Rojas, Marciano, Carlos Gilbert (Raúl Caballero, 79'), and Lokosa (Hugo Neves, 86').
Goals: 1-0, 16': Apple. 1-1, 90+1': Carlos Rojas.
Referee: Dávila Fernández, from the Galicia Referees School. He booked Aldair Ruiz (28'), Villalba (38'), Suárez (40'), Marín (92'), David Martínez (95'), from Utebo FC, and Fuoli (88') , Hugo Neves (94'), David Cuenca (m. 94) and Kevin Bautista (116'), from UD Almería 'B'. Rojiblanco Hugo Neves was sent off (116') following two yellow cards
Observations: Last match for promotion to Segunda Division RFEF played at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas.