[Pat Murphy]

Almería Stun Sevilla And Set Sights On Europe

Sevilla 1 - 4 Almería

Ten-man Sevilla saw their chance of moving into fourth place go completely down the pan as David Negredo scored twice to help Almería cause a surprise in the Sánchez Pizjuán on Saturday night.

The hosts were expected to take advantage of Atlético de Madrid's home defeat by Real Betis, but instead saw their early domination count for nothing against Unai Emery's side and failed to claim the last Champions League place.

Daniel Alves' shocking own goal set the visitors on their way, but few would have predicted the avalanche of goals in the second period of a game that saw both teams fail to score from the penalty spot.

Two goals early in the second period by Almería left Sevilla with nothing to play for and their evening went from bad to worse as Adriano was sent off and Frédéric Kanouté missed a penalty.

Rain may have hampered the supporters' bid to see the opening half of the match, but it did little to stop the action in a fast-paced encounter that the hosts looked set to dominate early one as they came out of the blocks at full pelt. Diego Capel´s early running tormented Bruno down the flank, but it was a mystery how the youngster suddenly disappeared from the game as the hosts were put on the back foot.

Sevilla were looking close to the form that saw them prosper under Juande Ramos and Almería looked set for a long and difficult evening, rather than for the strong and confident performance that suddenly began to emerge midway through the first period. Whether Sevilla's nerves suddenly took over or the away team changed tact is difficult to tell, but the hosts certainly gave their opponents a helping hand.

In the 24th minute a superb cross from the right was met at the far post by Dani Alves, but instead of cushioning wide he inexplicably sent a bullet header inside the near post which Andrés Palop had no chance of keeping out. That really did knock the stuffing out of Manolo Jiménez's team and they could well have been further behind at the break.

David Prieto came lumbering across and clipped Ortiz in the area after a flowing Almería move had seen them look set to test Palop once more and the referee pointed to the spot. Negredo stepped forward, but instead of ensuring the ball hit the target, he went for power and hammered his effort against the post from 12 yards out.

Sevilla had been saved from going further behind and should have regrouped at the break, but instead they came out looking even more disorganised after being kept waiting on the pitch and in the rain for three minutes by their visitors. Renato was brought on to replace Christian Poulsen and he was not even settled in when the man he should have been marking helped Almería double their lead.

Unchallenged, Soriano ventured towards the Sevilla area before unleashing a shot that Palop reached but criminally palmed back into the centre of the goal and Negredo was on hand to prod home. It could have been such a great save, but allied with Dani Alves' own goal made it look like the home team did not want to win this game at all.

Totally in control and able to sit back and enjoy themselves, Almería picked and chose their moments to go forward and in the 62nd minute the result was put beyond doubt as another soiree forward ended with their third. Felipe Melo played a superb ball through to Juanma Ortiz and he clipped the ball past the approaching Palop.

The madness continued three minutes later when Adriano objected strongly to the referee from far too close a distance and was shown a direct red card. There were no complaints about the decision, but there were when Almería scored a fourth goal almost directly from the restart. Ortiz turned provider as he sent a cross over from the right and Negredo flicked it into the far corner from an acute angle.

Jiménez was spitting chips on the touchline as his side's season looked set to be crumbling before his eyes. There was some respite from the goals at one end as Diego Alves showed why he is being watched by several of Europe's big guns by denying Kanouté from the penalty spot and then again from the rebound after Dani Alves had gone over in the area.

Kanouté did not have to wait long for his goal as the ball deflected into his path and he was left with a simple tap-in with 18 minutes remaining, but rather than spark an attempted, but unlikely, come back, Sevilla just continued in the same beleaguered manner.

This was Sevilla's chance to turnaround a season that has been blighted with the death of Antonio Puerta and the departure of Juande Ramos, but instead it saw the continuation of an incredible year for Emery and his Almería side as they once again defied the critics and are now just three points behind the Andalucians in the race for a UEFA Cup place.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Goal.com - La Liga - Almería Stun Sevilla And Set Sights On Europe


4-1 to Almeria

Jimenez has pretty much fired himself for next season now. They'll let him see out the season but then appoint a Marcelino or somebody for next season.