Celta defeats Almería with a goal in 88

Almería began the match by hugging the Galician area with two approaches from Luis Suárez and Adrián Embarba that did not entail much danger. The first chance would come for the locals in the 7th minute, in an individual play by Sergio Akieme that Ivan Villar stopped in a one-on-one. Starting from the scare, Celta tried to carry the weight of the match through long possessions that were rewarded on a double occasion that narrowly did not end in and in which Rafa Benítez’s men called for a penalty for a foul on Manu Sánchez, but De Burgos Bengoetxea did not understand that it was enough to indicate a maximum penalty.

After the quarter hour of the game, both teams were more concerned about not making mistakes than finding their opponent’s. Only Luis Suárez and Ramazani would give some life to the offensive side of Almería with attempts on the wing that ended with more pain than glory. At minute 24, it would be Celta the first to get ahead in the match on a set piece in which the rojiblanca defense did little more than stare at the entry of Unai Núñez, who pushed her headfirst before Maximiano into the center of Iago Aspas.

After the goal from the Galician team, Almería tried to react, but it seemed that Vicente Moreno’s men did not know how to do it. Said and done, the one who quickly found a prize was once again Celta, thanks to a mistake by Baba, who fell asleep, from what took advantage Jorgen Strand Larsen beating Maximiano with a shot adjusted to the left-handed post of the Portuguese.

Almería would try to react, but Melero’s lack of aim prevented the rojiblancos from getting close on the scoreboard before the break.

After the restart, Almería, logically, was obliged to carry the weight of the game to try, at least, to tie. Vicente Moreno tried to put more gunpowder up top with the entry of Ibrahima Koné for Adrián Embarba, but it would be Ramazani who would try to bring the ball closer to the Celtic area.

The audacity of Almería was rewarded and, after a good play by Ramazani, Melero ended up taking the rebound, who only had to give it to Akieme so that he pushed the 1-2 at minute 54.

Almería dreamed of a comeback and the draw came. It was after a great play by Ramazani, who assisted Sergio Arribas with a great pass from death to beat the young playmaker Ivan Villar pushing her in front of the goal in the 68th minute.

The locals had the perfect chance to finish off the match, in a run by Koné in which the Malian had all the time in the world to score, but Ivan Villar became great in one-on-one. The response from the Galicians was immediate, with Iago Aspas putting Maximiano’s reflexes to the test in a great dive from the Portuguese. The local team would have it again in minute 75 to complete the feat, but Arribas, completely alone, sent the ball to the clouds.

The game turned into a real street-runner and Celta would have another chance, this time Mingueza, who found a new stretch from Maximiano. With no time to catch oxygen, Bamba finished off from outside the area, Marc Pubill saving the visitor’s goal on the line.

Celta would end up taking the final prize, with a header from Swedberg in the 88th minute to the center of Manu Sánchez, leaving disappointment in the stands of the Power Horse Stadium and the victory for Rafa Benítez’s men.