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.
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.
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.
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.
Umar Sadiq and teammates celebrated at the final whistle, the Super Eagles striker now set to fulfill his dream of playing in La Liga.
This post was last modified on May 30, 2022 5:32 am