Perseverance pays off in La Rosaleda

Málaga CF had to work hard to overcome UD Almería in La Rosaleda on Tuesday night. After an even first half, the blue and whites dominated after the break and finished the game with a 2-0 win.

Both defences were on top during the opening 45 minutes. The locals got off to a brighter start with Duda creating the first bit of danger with a header in the fifth minute. Jesús Gámez was sharp on the wing, Francisco Portillo played a creative role in the last third of the pitch and Mounir El Hamdaoui was a constant threat.

However, Almería dealt with the onslaught well, and with Suso and Aleix Vidal on the wings, created a lot of movement. On the half hour mark Heran Pellerano was denied a goal by a good reaction save from Willy Caballero, and shortly before halftime Rodri also came close to putting the visitors in front.

The start of the second half continued in much the same vein. A lot of grit and determination but little in the way of fluidity. But as the minutes ticked by Málaga’s influence on the game began to grow and midway through the second half they became a constant thorn in the side of the visitors. Duda and El Hamdaoui kept Esteban busy between the Almería sticks until finally the deadlock was broken by Tissone in the 67th minute. Then, in injury time, Portillo made it 2-0.