The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner had not scored a league goal since December but scored a first-half goal that nearly denied the visitors the point they needed to secure promotion
USD Almeria have sealed a return to the Spanish La Liga many thanks to Nigeria international Umar Sadiq’s 18th league goal of the season and Alcorcon’s remarkable win over Eibar in a pulsating ending to the 2021/22 Segunda season.
Y finalmente ni este equipo ni esta ciudad se rindieron… ¡#AlmeríaEsDePrimera!
— UD Almería (@U_D_Almeria) May 29, 2022
🏆 ¡CAMPEONES!
🔴⚪️ #EstoEsSoloElPincipio pic.twitter.com/lTWt8IPOSb
In what was billed as the battle of the Super Eagles stars, both Kenneth Omeruo and Umar Sadiq found the net as Leganes forced Almeria to a 2-2 draw on Sunday evening.
After Leganes’ Borja Garces and Almeria’s Rodrigo Ely had traded goals within the opening quarter of an hour, Omeruo popped up to hand the home side the lead minutes before the halftime break. It was the Super Eagles defender’s second goal of the season and his first since Leganes’ 2-0 win at Malaga in December.
⚽️💪🏿 @omeruo22 #LeganésAlmería pic.twitter.com/noBL2AWhpV
— C.D. Leganés (@CDLeganes) May 29, 2022
And with Real Valladolid winning at home to Huesca and Eibar avoiding defeat at basement club Alcorcon, Almeria were out of the top two automatic promotion spots with that Omeruo strike.
But Sadiq had almost singlehandedly dragged La Union to the brink of promotion with his 17 goals and 12 assists. And the former AS Roma starlet proved to be the saviour again, smashing home his side’s equaliser shortly after the interval.
Mission Accomplished King Umar Sadiq lead Almeria to la liga 🙏🙏@booday10 @mekus102 @SammAudusoka @ojeksaikhoje @MrMowiz @NGSuperEagles @thenff @9ja_footballers @ScoreNigeria1 @goal @ColinUdoh pic.twitter.com/lV6L0bDoIx
— Mohammed lawal (@therealdankoli) May 29, 2022
💯 @omeruo22 cumplió 100 partidos con la elástica pepinera la pasada jornada. Hoy recibe su merecida camiseta conmemorativa. #Omeruo100 pic.twitter.com/NP5zazqCU8
— C.D. Leganés (@CDLeganes) May 29, 2022
The draw was still not enough, though, as all three teams at the summit of the league table momentarily had 81 points, with Eibar’s better head-to-head keeping Almeria in third.
However, bottom of the table Alcorcon, after denying Almeria a much-needed win last weekend, proved to be the spoiler again as they netted a late winner to hand Eibar a shocking 1-0 defeat.
And that was all Almeria needed to overtake their rivals and finish the season top of the table and winners of the second division title.
Hola @Laliga! 👋#EstoEsSoloElPrincipio pic.twitter.com/XpQKdn7sl6
— UD Almería (@U_D_Almeria) May 29, 2022
Umar Sadiq and teammates celebrated at the final whistle, the Super Eagles striker now set to fulfill his dream of playing in La Liga.
