Almeria's unbeaten start to the season came to an end as the Andalusian side came unstuck 2-0 against spirited Real Valladolid.AlvaroRubio struck the opener midway through the second half and HarisMedunjanin added a second in stoppage time to give Valladolid theirsecond home success of the campaign.
Rubio was later sent offfollowing a second yellow card in the closing stages, and the game sawmore controversy as Almeria were erroneously denied an equaliser by theassistant referee's flag shortly after Valladolid went ahead.
BothValladolid and Almeria are in their second season back in the PrimeraLiga, although their fortunes have been mixed so far this campaign.
Valladolid had lost two of their three matches before this one, but did beat Atletico Madrid in their second game of the season.
Almeria,meanwhile, came into this match unbeaten on seven points and had thechance to draw level with Primera Liga pace-setters Valencia andVillarreal.
However, that looked unlikely early on as Valladoliddominated and Jose Luis Mendilibar's side could have taken the lead asearly as the ninth minute, when Almeria keeper Diego Alves did well topunch away Jonathan Sesma's left-footed drive.
Later in the half,Sesma almost set up Bartholomew Ogbeche in a great position, but theNigerian was dispossessed by Hernan Pellerano and the chance was lost.
Atthe other end, Almeria captain Juanma Ortiz fired just wide with avolley as the visitors sought a goal against the run of play.
ButValladolid came close as half-time approached. This time, Alvesproduced a telling save to keep out Victor's deflected shot from theedge of the area.
The first half therefore ended goalless, but Valladolid had been by far the better side.
Mendilibar'smen were playing with a confidence missing from their performances awayfrom home this season, and they continued to dominate after the break.
Ogbeche almost got on the end of Rubio's whipped cross after 63 minutes as Valladolid sought the elusive opening goal.
Itcame four minutes later courtesy of a Rubio free-kick, which wasintended as a cross but deceived everyone - including Almeria keeperAlves - and somehow found its way into the net.
A minute later, the Brazilian goalkeeper redeemed himself with a fine save from Sesma.
Shortlyafter that, Almeria thought they had equalised when substitute Natalioslid the ball under goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo and into the net, but thestriker was ruled offside although replays suggested otherwise.
Theywere given a ray of hope late on when Rubio was sent off for a secondyellow card, but as they threw men forward, gaps started to appear atthe back.
And Valladolid took advantage in the dying seconds whenDutch midfielder Medunjanin crashed a thunderous drive past Alves towrap up an important win.
Mendilibar's side move up to ninth, where they sit one point behind seventh-placed Almeria.
