Almeria 1-0 Xerez

[xednewjedee]

Kobe VII Opening Day
Cheap Nike Kobe 2013
 
<p>Jose Ortiz ensured Juan Manuel Lillo's Almeria tenure got off to a winning start with a last-gasp winner against Xerez.</p><p>However, the home side's lacklustre performance means there is still plenty of hard work ahead for the new coach.</p><p>Lillo may take some of the credit, having summoned Ortiz from the bench just six minutes before he stroked home the only goal of the game, but the visitors will feel rightly aggrieved not to have added to their meagre seven-point total this season.</p><p>Xerez came into the game rooted to the bottom of the table and on the back of four successive defeats but almost claimed a fifth draw of the season as the home team laboured.</p><p>There were a handful of half-chances from both sides prior to Ortiz's intervention but neither of the relegation strugglers did enough to warrant maximum points.</p><p>Lillo, handed the reins at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos just prior to Christmas following the dismissal of Hugo Sanchez, will have been concerned by Almeria's slow start.</p><p>The hosts struggled to get hold of the ball for much of the opening 20 minutes and may even have gone behind as Xerez, who have found the net just six times all term, grew in confidence.</p><p>Abel Gomez was their liveliest player in the initial exchanges and twice unleashed from the edge of the penalty area.</p><p>The first flew wide of Diego Alves' goal but the second, moments later, drew a save from the Brazilian goalkeeper.</p><p>Gomez then turned creator, landing a free-kick on the head of Figueroa Momo, only for his effort to miss the target.</p><p>Lillo's new charges continued to play a disjointed game, Jose Chico not helping matters with a needless caution for handball after half an hour.</p><p>They began to get a foothold as time wore on, though, with Hernan Bernardello and Miguel Angel Corona both taking aim on the Xerez goal before half-time.</p><p>Domingo Cisma's strong effort two minutes after the restart, well saved by Brito Renan, ensured the home team carried that momentum into the second half.</p><p>Renan also did well to intercept Fernando Soriano's teasing cross in the 66th minute.</p><p>Xerez started to produce a little more going forward but Almeria slowed the pace with a series of fouls.</p><p>Then, with seven minutes remaining, Lillo played his final card, replacing Albert Crusat with Ortiz.</p><p>The effect was not quite immediate - Mario Bermejo could have given the division's bottom side the lead when he found space inside the area after 85 minutes - but it was decisive.</p><p>Jose Manuel Casado was responsible for a foul that allowed Almeria a free-kick in a good position, and although Cisma's delivery was met at first by Galvez David Prieto, the ball eventually broke to Ortiz.</p><p>He collected the ball 20 yards out and sent a low shot into the bottom corner for his first goal of the campaign and his side's first win in seven matches.</p>
 
Kobe Lifestyle
Lebron 10 Championship Gold
Scarpe Basket Uomo