Zaragoza 1 : 0 Almeria - Alves error hands Zaragoza victory

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 by PA

Goalkeeper Diego Alves' unfortunate own goal condemned Almeria to a 1-0 defeat in an entertaining clash at La Romareda, a result which lifted Real Zaragoza out of the Primera Division relegation zone.

Alves performed heroics to keep his side on level terms until the 70th minute, when Gabi's shot rebounded off the post and into the net via the goalkeeper's shoulder.

Carlos Garcia went close to an equaliser and Zaragoza's Ander Herrera was sent off in injury time but Almeria remain 10 points adrift of safety with five games remaining.

Braulio drew the first save of the night from Alves with a 20-yard effort in the 15th minute, and the same player then headed against the upright 10 minutes later - the first of six times, including the goal, that the woodwork was struck.

Ander twice tested Alves as the first half finished goalless, but the second was packed with incident.

Alves saved well once more from Angel Lafita at the expense of a corner, from which Paulo Da Silva's header was cleared off the line by Antonio Luna.

It was one-way traffic and Lafita again tested Alves before Nicolas Bertolo became the second man to hit the post and was then denied by the impressive Brazilian keeper.

Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ander took the woodwork count to four - but the fifth was to prove crucial. Alves dived to save Gabi's effort and was left helpless as the rebound struck him and ended up in the back of the net.

That forced Almeria to belatedly go on the offensive, and Garcia's header was kept out by a combination of goalkeeper Antonio Doblas and the post.

That came from Corona's corner, and another delivery from an identical source saw Kalu Uche head over before Pablo Piatti's effort was repelled by Paraguayan defender Da Silva.

Alves had one more save in his locker, thwarting Guirane N'Daw in stoppage time, before Ander was dismissed for foul and abusive language.

Carlos Diogo's handball gave Almeria one last chance to salvage a point, but Corona's effort was kept out by Doblas.