6-1: UD Almería win big at home first time this season to escape bottom position
The Rojiblancos wrap up the 2023/24 campaign with a rampant victory as they say goodbye to top-tier LaLiga EA Sports in final game. They managed to turn around Brian's opener in a commanding second-half with six goals
UD Almería wrapped up the 2023/24 season by winning big at home for the first time this campaign as they thrashed already-relegated Cádiz CF 6-1. The Amarillo team took the lead through Brian Olivan, but in a crazy second half, the Rojiblancos managed to turn it around with up to 6 goals.
Head coach Pepe Mel decided to make several changes to the starting XI compared to the previous match against RCD Mallorca. In defence, Radovanović took César Montes' spot and Pubill replaced Pozo. In the midfield, Robertone and Viera came on for Melero and Sergio Arribas. Up front, Embarba replaced Centelles and Baptistão played instead of Luka Romero. The only players who regain starting spots compared to the match against the Bermellones were keeper Fernando, Edgar and striker Luis Suárez.
During the opening 15 minutes, UD Almería bossed the game dominating in possession and also in offensive plays that were not dangerous though. They were creating better plays as time wind down; Pubill and Langa, on the wings, were threatening the Cadista defence that had a hard time holding them back. However, this changed and the clearest chances of the first half were engineered by Cádiz CF. Navarro made the most of a loose ball within the box and was about to score the opener, but his shot went just wide. This goal-scoring opportunity was a warning of what would arrive a couple of minutes later. Brian Ocampo, in the 29th minute, with a strike from the edge of the area very close to the post, beat Fernando, who could do nothing to save it. As a result of this goal, the team split and the visiting team began to take control of the match.
Then, the second half was something completely different, it was a game of two halves as they the Indálicos came out onto the pitch in a rush looking to comeback from behind... and what a comeback it was! UD Almería managed to score up to 6 goals. The first was netted by Melero inside 48 minutes, after a great collective play. Shortly after, in the 51st minute, Arribas was the one to break the deadlock 2-1. His shot bounced off the goalkeeper twice before his tap-in.
Funnily enough, both players were brought in as soon as the second half kicked off.
The Rojiblancos were not going to leave the score 2-1. They wanted more, much more and only 5 minutes later, opponents Zaldúa scored the third with an own goal to the despair of the visitors. The next two goals were very special, since they were going to be grabbed by Luis Suárez, the team's Colombian striker, who after a very complicated season due to his broken fibula on the treatment table, say goodbye to the campaign with a more than well-deserved brace. Sergio Arribas put the game to bed with a superb brace to seal a rampant victory and escape the bottom position and get a 'good taste' for the next season in the second tier of Spanish football.
