1-2: UD Almería ‘B’ show true grit to seal passage to the play-off final
The UDA Academy prospects beat Huétor Tájar in 90 minutes with goals from Gilbert and Lokosa to be one game away from earning promotion
UD Almería ‘B’ showed their true grit during their clash against Huétor Tájar to clinch an all-important victory and seal passage to the fourth-tier Segunda Division RFEF promotion play-off final. The UDA Academy players reached the final stretch of each of the halves better than their rivals until the goals courtesy of Gilbert at the stroke of half-time and Lokosa, on 82 minutes, sparked the delirious joy of the 300 avid fans who travelled and supported the team at all times. The youngsters will find out their opponents from the third and final knockout stage on Monday.
None of the sides wanted to make mistakes when pouring forward over the course of the first forty-five minutes. UD Almería ‘B’ gained momentum little by little and engineered most of the goal-scoring opportunities. Of course, scoring was a tough task against a professional team from Granada who tried their best not to concede due to the advantage that a draw would grant them.
Some minutes before half-time, the youthful Rojiblancos found spaces and in the 40th minute, Lokosa went on the attack with power and his reverse pass found compatriot Gilbert who struck at will. It was the 0-1 with which the break came despite the fact that Huétor Tajar nearly grabbed the first-half stoppage time equaliser through a vicious shot from Utrilla that hit the crossbar.
The thrilling knockout game resumed with the UDA Academy youngsters raring to double their lead. As a result, two good plays by Rojas followed one another in just five minutes. In the first of them, the keeper made a great save, while in the second, the ball went inches wide off the right post.
The UD Almeria Academy warriors had forgiven the fact of having a little more peace of mind. It was then, 58 minutes in, when the Hueteños pegged back through an absolute rocket by Lolo from the edge of the box against which Diego Fuoli could do nothing. Óscar Fernández's boys were forced to take risks at 1-1, otherwise they would be dumped out of the final…
UD Almería ‘B’ reached the decisive stretch of 90 minutes way better. With amazing capacity when it comes to combining, it would be within 82 minutes when Rojas started a play and his through pass with remarkable precision was taken by Lokosa who made it 1-2 with a powerful shot.
UD Almeria ‘B’ closed out the clash to perfection, cheered on by a large travelling crowd that began to sing the UD Almeria anthem until the referee's full-time whistle confirmed the victory and the passage of the Rojiblancos to the play-offs final. Monday’s draw is going to determine the rivals and the date and time of the third and last round game of the ‘B’ team lads in the race for promotion to the Segunda Division RFEF.
Match Information
CD Huetor Tajar: Adri; Del Moral (Manu, 85’), Pérez, Ramiro, Juanje (Dani, 66’), Edu, Utrilla (Joaquín, 79’), Lolo, Álex, Malano (Esteban, 66’) and Gadea (David , 45’)
UD Almería ‘B’: Fuoli; Vertiz, Álex Mendes, David Cuenca, Fermín, Aitor Puñal, Kevin Bautista, Rojas, Gilbert (Hugo Neves, 87’), Marciano (Raúl Caballero, 91’) and Lokosa (Avelino, 46’).
Goals: 0-1, 40’. Gilbert. 1-1 58’: Lol. 1-2 82’: Lokosa.
Referee: Abraham Gutiérrez Perera from the Seville Referees School. He booked Adri and Pérez from Huétor Tájar as well as Lokosa, Vertiz, Rojas and Fermín from UD Almería ‘B’.
Observations: second-round knockout game of the play-offs for promotion to the Segunda Division RFEF. The Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium hosted the match in the Malaga-based town of Estepona.