Betis loses in the last minute (3-2)
Braian scores his first goal in the league and Salva scores the second on his first day back. Óscar Díaz, Aleix Vidal and Zongo scored for Almería
Real Betis didn't go to Almeria for a stroll in the park. The green-and-whites came to the Juegos del Mediterráneo Stadium with the idea that their Club and their fans deserved that they went out for a win despite having been relegated to the second tier in Spanish football.
Possibly without the pressure of thinking that any mistakes they made would be definitive they went out there to play the ball against a stifling Almeria, dangerous on the attack but vulnerable in defence. Matilla was the novelty on the Real Betis team taking control of the squad and taking part in all the set-piece balls; he led the attack up the right wing. Juanfran's advances up the pitch were constant but his centres, the majority of them to the far post, didn't find anybody to finish them off. Molina dropped back to receive the ball and tried to make partnership with a very active Ruben Castro. Time and time again Betis made advances on Esteban's goal but didn't have the finishing to conclude the plays.
He seemed comfortable with all the players immersed in the game and giving orders. Almeria opted almost exclusively on long passes and incursions by Oscar Díaz. Adán saved what was a golden opportunity and Juanfran saved a ball on the goal line; however, at the beginning of the second half it was a defensive error that gave Almería their first goal scored by Oscar Díaz. The forward took advantage of a pass by Aleix Vidal from the right wing to the far post and scored with ease.
Just after the goal Francisco's team went one man down as Suso was sent off after a hard tackle on Perquis. Calderón's men wasted no time in taking advantage of their numerical advantage. Juan Carlos came in from his wing and his grass-cutting pass to the far post gave Braian the opportunity to debut as a goalscorer in the 'Liga'.
The manager decided to give Salva Sevilla an opportunity to come on after the equaliser in order to have greater control over the ball. The midfielder celebrated his reappearance by scoring Betis's second goal. Braian didn't manage to connect with Juanfran's centre but managed to deflect the ball back so that the midfielder could shoot squeezing the ball just inside the post.
Almeria, in the knowledge that there was a lot in play, drew on their honour and the quality of Aleix Vidal to equalise. His gallop up the wing ended in a shot on goal. Adán came out close the angles but his attempted clearance ended up in his own net.
All of a sudden Almería seemed to realise how important the match was and stepped up their game another peg in search of the triumph that would give them ease of mind. Meanwhile, Betis did not want to renounce their options of victory in the final minutes of the match saw a to-ing and fro-ing up and down the pitch. Thrilling. Betis could have tipped the balance in their favour in the 90th minute if the referee had seen the handball, but he didn't. And immediately after in the last seconds of the match Zongo brought the three points home to Almeria.
UD Almería: Esteban; Rafita,Torsiglieri, Fran Vélez, Mané; Corona (73’ Azeez), Verza; Aleix Vidal, Suso, Óscar Díaz (62’ Zongo), and Rodri (73’ Soriano).
Real Betis: Adán; Juanfran (81’ Chica), Perquis, Figueras, Juan Carlos; N’Diaye (62’ Salva Sevilla) , Lolo Reyes, Matilla; Molina, Braian (74’ Baptistao) and Rubén Castro.
Referee: Iglesias Villanueva. Yellow cards for N'Diaye (28'), Perquis (58'), Rodri (58'), Lolo Reyes (90'), Figueras (93'), Zongo (93') and red for Suso (53')
Goals: Oscar Diaz 1-0 (51'), 1-1 Braian (59'), 1-2 Salva Sevilla (70') 2-2 (73' Aleix Vidal), 3-2 (93' Zongo).