Atlético de Madrid deserve the win but again run into Diego Alves (2-2)
A phenomenal Sergio Agüero gave the ‘rojiblancos’ the lead twice
It ended in a draw at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos when Atlético de Madrid had been better than Almería, took the lead twice on the score-sheet, but were unable to close out the match with a goal that would have sunk the hopes of the home side. Agüero opened the scoring in the first half, Crusat levelled, Kun scored once again and then Goitom got the equaliser with fifteen minutes left to play. Later, Diego Alves saved his club from defeat.
Almería and Atlético de Madrid went into the contest with a sense of urgency. For the home team, they wanted to get out of the relegation zone, while the side from Madrid would have allowed them to sleep in European spots as they awaited the results of their direct rivals on Sunday and Monday. In the end, both had to settle for a draw that doesn’t leave either of them content.
The local squad was without star player Piatti, a relief for Quique Sánchez Flores’ men because in recent match-ups he always seemed to score against Atlético. However, they did line up goal-scorer Ulloa and Kalu Uche, although the one who provided a headache for the visitors turned out to be Crusta. For the club from Madrid, it was the same team that convincingly beat Villarreal but with the sole obligated change of Perea for the suspended Domínguez.
Atlético de Madrid had a big challenge in front of them: to beat Almería in their stadium, the only one in the entire top flight where they had never been victorious. The three visits to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos had ended with two drags (0-0 in 07-08 and 1-1 in 08-09) and one loss (1-0 last year). Nevertheless, they were unable to accomplish their goal and ended up tying at two-all, although they surely could have come away with the win looking at the number of chances they had.
The game kicked-off evenly, as Almería showed plenty of respect for their opponent until they finally livened up and started to attack De Gea’s goal. Up until Crusat forced the ‘rojiblanco’ keeper into a save in the 7th minute, the home squad didn’t seem to believe they could cause damage to Atlético. The reply didn’t take long to arrive as Forlán was the first to put Diego Alves to the test with a low shot that the Brazilian wrapped up.
A clear foul was committed by Carlos García on Agüero on the side of the area and the visitors appealed for a penalty, but Iglesias Villanueva thought it to be outside the area and granted them a free kick that Reyes shot over in minute 14. From that moment on, Atlético began to control the ball, but were unable to create many scoring chances. Forlán, in minute 26, forced Alves into a save.
Nevertheless, the home side responded and De Gea made a wonderful save on a Crusat shot, tipping over for a corner when a goal seemed inevitable. But the opposing keeper was unable to keep out Agüero’s shot soon afterwards. Forlán stole a ball in the attacking third, dropped it back for Tiago, who saw Kun’s run and sent him a beautiful pass that the Argentine converted into a 0-1 lead in the 38th minute. It was great finishing, because whereas Almería had enjoyed two chances that were saved by De Gea, the first clear one for Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads ended in the back of the net.
Atlético tried to close out the game in the final minutes of the first half, but first Forlán crossed his shot too far in front of Alves and then Reyes headed over. And they had wanted to close it out for what could happen and happened in the second half. The third time was a charm for Crusat, as he ripped a first-timed shot that the ‘rojiblanco’ goalie was helpless to stop.
But Kun was determined to get his team back in the lead and only took 11 minutes to do so. Before that, Alves saved a shot from Reyes and then a nifty play from Agüero almost got Godín a tap-in, but the shot was saved between a sliding defender and the post. But on a counter-attack Agüero received a nice pass on the right, cut inside and unleashed a great grass-cutting shot that beat Alves to his near post.
Almería were playing for their lives and weren’t about to let Atlético de Madrid walk away with the victory. Goitom, who had come on fifteen minutes earlier, headed in a nice cross from Ortiz Bernal, drawing things level at 2-2. The visitors once again pushed forward in search of a much-needed win at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos. And the fact is that Quique Sánchez Flores’ team did enough to have come away with the three points, with three clear chances in the final stretch of the match with a shot from Tiago, an excellent combination between Tiago and Kun that the Argentine shot inches wide and a missile from Reyes that was tipped over by Alves.
In short, the game ended in a tie that doesn’t help out Almería much and doesn’t leave Atlético de Madrid satisfied because they didn’t reach their goal of making it into European spots this week. Now, they will turn their focus on the derby against Real Madrid next Saturday.
ALMERÍA, 2 (Crusat and Goitom); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 2 (Agüero)
Almería: Diego Alves; Míchel, Carlos García (Acasiete, 79’), Marcelo Silva, Luna; M’Bami, Bernardello; Kalu Uche (Goitom, 61’), Feghouli (Ortiz Bernal, 66’), Crusat; and Ulloa.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Mario Suárez, Elías (Koke, 61’); Reyes, Agüero and Forlán.
Referee: Iglesias Villanueva. For Almería showed yellow cards to Carlos García (14’) and Bernardello (58’); for Atlético booked Elías (40’), Mario Suárez (63’) and Filipe Luis (72’).
Game Notes: Matchday 28 of the League National Championship. Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos. 13,228 spectators with numerous Atleti supporters in the stands. The Atlético de Madrid players wore black armbands in memory of Adrián Escudero, the mythical ´rojiblanco´ player, and Luis Romero, the father of the President of Atlético de Madrid Féminas, Lola Romero, who both passed away this last week.
GOALS:
0-1. 40’. Forlán steals the ball, props. it for Tiago who lifts it over the defence for Agüero, who rips it past Diego Alves.
1-1. 49’. Crusat unleashes a missile from the top of the area that beats De Gea in the upper corner.
1-2. 60’. Atlético counter-attack, the ball arrives to Agüero on the right, he cuts inside and beats Alves on a hard, low shot to the near post.
2-2. 76’. Goitom heads in a cross from Ortiz Bernal.
Almería and Atlético de Madrid went into the contest with a sense of urgency. For the home team, they wanted to get out of the relegation zone, while the side from Madrid would have allowed them to sleep in European spots as they awaited the results of their direct rivals on Sunday and Monday. In the end, both had to settle for a draw that doesn’t leave either of them content.
The local squad was without star player Piatti, a relief for Quique Sánchez Flores’ men because in recent match-ups he always seemed to score against Atlético. However, they did line up goal-scorer Ulloa and Kalu Uche, although the one who provided a headache for the visitors turned out to be Crusta. For the club from Madrid, it was the same team that convincingly beat Villarreal but with the sole obligated change of Perea for the suspended Domínguez.
Atlético de Madrid had a big challenge in front of them: to beat Almería in their stadium, the only one in the entire top flight where they had never been victorious. The three visits to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos had ended with two drags (0-0 in 07-08 and 1-1 in 08-09) and one loss (1-0 last year). Nevertheless, they were unable to accomplish their goal and ended up tying at two-all, although they surely could have come away with the win looking at the number of chances they had.
The game kicked-off evenly, as Almería showed plenty of respect for their opponent until they finally livened up and started to attack De Gea’s goal. Up until Crusat forced the ‘rojiblanco’ keeper into a save in the 7th minute, the home squad didn’t seem to believe they could cause damage to Atlético. The reply didn’t take long to arrive as Forlán was the first to put Diego Alves to the test with a low shot that the Brazilian wrapped up.
A clear foul was committed by Carlos García on Agüero on the side of the area and the visitors appealed for a penalty, but Iglesias Villanueva thought it to be outside the area and granted them a free kick that Reyes shot over in minute 14. From that moment on, Atlético began to control the ball, but were unable to create many scoring chances. Forlán, in minute 26, forced Alves into a save.
Nevertheless, the home side responded and De Gea made a wonderful save on a Crusat shot, tipping over for a corner when a goal seemed inevitable. But the opposing keeper was unable to keep out Agüero’s shot soon afterwards. Forlán stole a ball in the attacking third, dropped it back for Tiago, who saw Kun’s run and sent him a beautiful pass that the Argentine converted into a 0-1 lead in the 38th minute. It was great finishing, because whereas Almería had enjoyed two chances that were saved by De Gea, the first clear one for Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads ended in the back of the net.
Atlético tried to close out the game in the final minutes of the first half, but first Forlán crossed his shot too far in front of Alves and then Reyes headed over. And they had wanted to close it out for what could happen and happened in the second half. The third time was a charm for Crusat, as he ripped a first-timed shot that the ‘rojiblanco’ goalie was helpless to stop.
But Kun was determined to get his team back in the lead and only took 11 minutes to do so. Before that, Alves saved a shot from Reyes and then a nifty play from Agüero almost got Godín a tap-in, but the shot was saved between a sliding defender and the post. But on a counter-attack Agüero received a nice pass on the right, cut inside and unleashed a great grass-cutting shot that beat Alves to his near post.
Almería were playing for their lives and weren’t about to let Atlético de Madrid walk away with the victory. Goitom, who had come on fifteen minutes earlier, headed in a nice cross from Ortiz Bernal, drawing things level at 2-2. The visitors once again pushed forward in search of a much-needed win at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos. And the fact is that Quique Sánchez Flores’ team did enough to have come away with the three points, with three clear chances in the final stretch of the match with a shot from Tiago, an excellent combination between Tiago and Kun that the Argentine shot inches wide and a missile from Reyes that was tipped over by Alves.
In short, the game ended in a tie that doesn’t help out Almería much and doesn’t leave Atlético de Madrid satisfied because they didn’t reach their goal of making it into European spots this week. Now, they will turn their focus on the derby against Real Madrid next Saturday.
ALMERÍA, 2 (Crusat and Goitom); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 2 (Agüero)
Almería: Diego Alves; Míchel, Carlos García (Acasiete, 79’), Marcelo Silva, Luna; M’Bami, Bernardello; Kalu Uche (Goitom, 61’), Feghouli (Ortiz Bernal, 66’), Crusat; and Ulloa.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Mario Suárez, Elías (Koke, 61’); Reyes, Agüero and Forlán.
Referee: Iglesias Villanueva. For Almería showed yellow cards to Carlos García (14’) and Bernardello (58’); for Atlético booked Elías (40’), Mario Suárez (63’) and Filipe Luis (72’).
Game Notes: Matchday 28 of the League National Championship. Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos. 13,228 spectators with numerous Atleti supporters in the stands. The Atlético de Madrid players wore black armbands in memory of Adrián Escudero, the mythical ´rojiblanco´ player, and Luis Romero, the father of the President of Atlético de Madrid Féminas, Lola Romero, who both passed away this last week.
GOALS:
0-1. 40’. Forlán steals the ball, props. it for Tiago who lifts it over the defence for Agüero, who rips it past Diego Alves.
1-1. 49’. Crusat unleashes a missile from the top of the area that beats De Gea in the upper corner.
1-2. 60’. Atlético counter-attack, the ball arrives to Agüero on the right, he cuts inside and beats Alves on a hard, low shot to the near post.
2-2. 76’. Goitom heads in a cross from Ortiz Bernal.
