1-4: UD Almería 'B' earn promotion to Segunda RFEF!
The UDA Academy Rojiblancos cancelled out Unax's early opener for CD Toledo and extended their lead with goals courtesy of Loren, Rachad, Josema and Marezi to achieve the more than deserved promotion
UD Almería 'B' after thrashing CD Toledo 1-4 have earned promotion to Segunda RFEF after months of effort and graft. The Rojiblancos achieved cancelled out CD Toledo's early opener and demonstrated that they are a better team. The goals from Loren, Rachad, Josema and Marezi rounded off a long, difficult but very beautiful season, with a youth team whose motto has always been 'Made in Almería' since almost everyone who make up the squad were born in the province of Almería.
Despite UD Almería 'B' tried to stop the initial momentum, the hosts, just as they did in the first leg, managed to put themselves in front very soon. In the 5th minute, Unax took advantage of a great pass and beat Bruno Iribarne one-on-one, and thus making it 0-1. This was a hard blow for the visitors, but they managed to shake off that blow and began to create danger on the final third with a very active Valen and Aarón who were overwhelming their full-backs in every offensive play and making it extremely difficult for the home defence.
With 28 minutes on the clock, Alberto Lasarte's side squandered another great chance, this time from a direct free-kick, Aarón hit a free-kick from the edge of the box that made the Toledano keeper stretch, deflecting the ball. On the rebound, Peñalver shot the ball slightly off the ball and crashed it into the side of the net. These were great minutes for the Indálicos who, since they conceded the opening goal, did not let the Toledo outfit get close to Bruno's goal. In the end, the scoreboard would not change any further during the opening forty-five minutes and the home effectiveness prevailed.
The second half kicked off with UD Almería 'B' piling on the attack and with very clear ideas of finding the tie as soon as possible. The first to try his luck was Joan in the first hopeful play of the second half, but the Verdes defence was very attentive, repelling all threatening situations. The hosts, logically, reacted and also began to try their luck, but without success. However, football was fair to Alberto Lasarte's boys and after a somewhat confusing play within the CD Toledo box, striker Loren was the smartest and with a right foot he sent the ball into the corner, impossible to be saved for the host goalie.
The visitors from the south coast managed to level things up in the 57th minute. UD Almería 'B' stepped up a gear to earn promotion after so many months of graft and with that idea the 'B' team played every attack until inside 82 minutes, that goal would come to seal promotion to fourth-tier Segunda RFEF thanks to Rachad who managed to find the back of the net.
The youthful Indálicos took the lead with 8 to go. All of a sudden, goals from Josema and Marezi extended the lead to 1-4. UD Almería 'B' deservedly achieved promotion to a higher tier, after so many months of work. It finally arrived, proving once again, that Almería never gives up!
Match information:
CD Toledo: Yelco, Kupen, Iván González, David Luna (Gómez. 88'), Unax (Piochi. 68'), Pepe Delgado (Peteiro. 88'), Theo García (Martín. 68'), Chupi (Abraham. 68'), Rodri, Angelito and Manu Gavilán.
UD Almería 'B': Bruno, Peñalver (Paco Sanz. 85'), Álex Mendes, René Pérez, Aarón Romero, Marcos Peña, Cantón (Luis Lara. 56'), Joan (Josema. 76'), Valen (Loren. 56' ), Hugo Neves and Rachad (Marezi. 85').
Goals: 1-0 (5') Manu Gavilán. 1-1 (57') Loren. 1-2 ( 82') Rachad. 1-3 (87') Josema. 1-4 ( 90+4') Marezi.
Referees: Rubén Gámez Illera. He booked hosts Theo García, Rodri and Abraham, sending off Iván González and guests Valen and René Pérez.
Observations: Second leg of the final of the play-off for promotion to Segunda RFEF. Game played at the 'Salto del Caballo' stadium.