Almeria 3 : 2 Real Betis - Azeez strikes late to save Almeria

Posted Sunday, May 04, 2014 by PA

Ramon Azeez's late header claimed three much-needed points as 10-man Almeria moved out of the relegation zone following a 3-2 victory over Real Betis on Sunday.

Oscar Diaz and Aleix Vidal were also on target in a topsy-turvy second half at Juegos Mediterraneos, in which Suso was sent off 10 minutes after the break as Francisco Rodriguez's side moved up to 16th in the Primera Division with two matches remaining.

Already relegated Betis scored a second-half equaliser through Braian Rodriguez and then Salva Sevilla handed them a temporary lead before the home side struck back.

Gabriel Calderon's visitors had the first real chance of the match when Javier Matilla's free-kick from the right found Jorge Molina in the centre of the area, but his header went wide of the left post.

Almeria came back with a chance of their own, but Rodri's cross from just outside the area was parried to safety by Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan.

Vidal was next to have a go for the home side as they began to dominate the opening stages, but the 24-year-old striker was unfortunate as his close-range effort just went wide.

Almeria stopper Esteban worked hard to keep out quick-fire chances from both Matilla and Molina midway through the first half before Juanfran's shot missed the target.

The home side hit back with a chance to break the deadlock through Oscar Diaz just after the half-hour mark but his effort from the centre of the box was comfortably saved by Adan before Suso's shot sailed over the crossbar.

Rodriguez almost handed Betis the lead with two close headers as the match approached the break, but both times he was just off target.

Both sides started the second half with more determination and it was Almeria who broke the deadlock seven minutes in as Oscar Diaz got on the end of Vidal's cross to slot the ball home low.

Just two minutes later the home side lost on-loan Liverpool midfielder Suso to a straight red card after he brought down Damien Perquis.

On the hour mark the visitors struck back as Juan Carlos on the left picked out Rodriguez in the area and he made no mistake as he fired the ball home from close range.

Almeria were struggling with 10 men now and their opponents took the lead just over 10 minutes later as Rodriguez set up second-half substitute Sevilla, who sent his long-range effort neatly into the bottom right corner.

But the home side did not give up and they managed to equalise as Vidal collected Azeez's cross and fired past Adan before Azeez's header in the final minute handed them an unlikely, and much-needed, win.