Almería 4-3 Real Mallorca

Real Mallorca fell to a fourth successive defeat to end a miserable December as they were humbled 4-3 by 17th placed Almeria in an empty Estadio del Mediterráneo in Andalusia. Another lacklustre defence performace cost Los Bermellones who even threw away a penalty.

Laudrup once again raised eyebrows with his selection as it became quite clear that on loan Argentine striker Fernando Cavenaghi was not in his plans for the future. Despite rotations allowing rare starts for Lux, Rubén, Martí Crespí, Kevin and Víctor Casadesús, Pierre Webó was still preferred to the Bordeaux striker. Tuni was also left out as the Danish manager named a 4-4-2 formation with Pereira playing on the left wing.

The game couldn’t have started worse for the away side. Only six minutes had ticked by as Bernardello had his shot charged down by what appeared to be the face of Joao Víctor. The referee, however, deemed the ball had hit the Brazilians hand and gave a penalty which Ulloa converted to make it 1-0.

Jonathan de Guzmán equalised for the away side, however, on 22 minutes. The Canadian struck a sweet half volley reminiscent of the goal he scored at the weekend against Villarreal. But it wasn’t long before his side were behind again.

Almería were just about coming out on top in the end to end play, and on 28 minutes, Ulloa’s header looped over Lux to put the home side back in the lead.

Both sides then had golden chances to score with Ulloa and Nsue failing to convert with both goalkeepers stranded. And then, a cross from close range hit Carlos Garcia on the hand and the referee awarded a very harsh penalty to Mallorca in addition to booking the defender. But Víctor’s tame penalty didn’t trouble Esteban who made a simple stop to protect his sides lead.

But the sides were destined to go in at the break level. And when a swift attack saw Emilio Nsue square the ball for Víctor, the Spaniard righted his wrongs to poke the ball past Esteban and put Mallorca back on level terms.

Mallorca started the second half the better of the two sides, despite a fantastic Valeri free kick cracking the woodwork for Almería, with the biggest chance for Mallorca falling to Emilio Nsue who hit the side netting. But it just wasn’t to be for Los Bermellones, and so it wasn’t too surprising when Uche, who had only been on the field for two minutes, put the Andalusians back in front. A cross found Ulloa, who had found space inbetween Ratinho and Martí Crespí, to head down for Uche, who was in even more space inbetween Martí Crespí and Rubén to head Almería into a 3-2 lead.

Víctor missed another chance when his looped shot hit the bar. And then the game was over when a wild shot, heading wide, found Ulloa in plenty of space on 72 minutes. His brilliant control saw him take his chance well from six yards to make it 4-2. Mallorca’s appeals for offside were in vain as Martí Crespí was playing him onside.

As the game appeared to be fizzling out to a 4-2 final result, Michael Pereira won possession from a sleeping Almería defence and his through ball to Webó on 88 minutes saw the Cameroonian take his chance well. A disappointing late goal for Almería to concede and Mallorca will go back to the Iberostar Estadi fully aware that they are still in this competition. Even if Almería could’ve finished it again after a chance went begging from a free-kick conceded by Ratinho.

But the final result was a 4-3 win for a side which is 17th in La Liga. Rotations is not an excuse, with Almería naming an equally weakened team. The only thing more disappointing than this loss was the poor turn out, which was much worse than a usual Carling Cup turn out, and the impending exit of Fernando Cavenaghi. A striker who Mallorca fans hoped could’ve been big for them this season, but in turn hasn’t been given a chance by Michael Laudrup.

Teams

Almeria (4-3-3): Esteban; Lillo, Silva, Garcia, Jakobsen; Ortiz (Crusat 63), Bernardello, Vargas; Valeri (Uche 63), Ulloa (Corona 78), Piatti.
Substitutes: Alves (gk); Acasiete; Crusat, Corona, Mbami; Uche, Goitom.
Goals: Ulloa 6 pen, 28, 72; Uche 65.

Real Mallorca (4-4-2): Lux; Ratinho, Martí Crespí, Rubén, Kevin; Nsue, de Guzmán, Joao Víctor, Pereira; Webó, Víctor (Ramis 89).
Substitutes: Nadal (gk); Ramis, Ayoze, Corrales, Nunes; Tuni; Cavenaghi.
Goals: de Guzmán 22; Víctor 44; Webó 88.