LANZAROTE 4 VILLA SANTA BRÍGIDA 4
LANZAROTE 4 VILLA SANTA BRÍGIDA 4, 18th December 2014
An avalanche of goals in one of the most entertaining matches ever played in Lanzarote. From the moment the Ref blew to start the game until the very end it was impossible to takes your eyes off the play.
The Rojillos will be a little disappointed after taking a 4-2 lead with 10 men but the Gran Canarian side were well worthy of a point.
A victory here would have sent Lanzarote top of the league but nobody expected an easy game against a side that spent many years with Lanzarote in the league above Segunda B (League 1).
The visitors almost scored in the opening minute. Futre the small bald headed number 10 who was the engine of the Gran Canarian side swept in a corner and as the ball fell the Lanzarote keeper Agoney managed to pounce on it before a striker could fire it home.
The Rojillos response was to take the lead in the 7th minute. Great work from the Colombian Mauri who won the ball on the right wing, he in turn fed Kilian and the bushy haired midfielder sent a lovely ball in to his skipper Rosmen. Lanzarote´s top striker made no mistake nodding the ball into the net from six yards and sending his side 1-0 up and also sent himself to the top of the goal scoring charts with 11 strikes for this season.
The lead was only held for five minutes as ex Rojillo Yeray Ortega drove in a shot and with a slight deflection beat the Lanzarote keeper to make the score 1-1.
In the 19th minute the visitors completely turned the score around as the 35 year old Yeray Ortega broke down the left wing and delivered a great low cross which was finished off superbly by striker Romario to give his side a 1-2 lead.
The Conejeros (Locals) had two great chances to even the score. Toñito who was on fire hit the bar from a free kick and Rosmen saw his header well saved by the Gran Canarian keeper.
The fifth placed side came so close to making it 3-1 when a header from Romario bounced up off the floor and was heading towards the top corner when from out of nowhere popped up defender Ángel Gil who acrobatically cleared the ball on the line. Seconds later the ball was down the other end with Toñito firing in a great strike only to see the keeper produce a great save. This was end to end football and you were worried to blink in case you missed something.
Five minutes before half time and Mauri wasn’t giving his ex colleagues a moment’s peace. A long ball played through for Mauri was chased and won by the Lanzarote striker, he then slid the ball under the keeper to level the score at 2-2.
The second half began with two great chances for the visitors to retake the lead. Winger Figueroa whipped in a beauty of a cross which had to be dealt with. Makeshift centre back Falo got his foot onto the ball which narrowly went over the bar to his relief. One minute later and a perfect cross from winger Juanma Pérez found the head of midfielder Carreño and from six yards and no pressure headed high and wide. The Rojillos were riding their luck.
On the hour mark and just as you thought the visitors were getting on top in the match Mauri slipped in a defence splitting pass for Toñito, the defenders were screaming for offside but Toñito timed his run to perfection easily rounded the keeper and sent Lanzarote back in front by 3 goals to two.
In the 71st minute what seemed to be a terrible decision by the referee was to brand Falo a second yellow card for a tackle which the official deemed to be unfair. His first yellow was for a strike from two metres from his face so he protected himself with his hand. Lanzarote were down to 10 men against a side that was breathing fire.
The onslaught came but the Lanzarote defence coped superbly feeding their outlets with wingers Kennedy and Toñito doing a fine job holding the ball up to give their teammates time to breathe.
In the 73rd minute man of the match Mauri and there could have been many charged through the centre of the pitch like a bull with opponents doing all they can to bring him down, the Colombian kept his feet and his composure and released the ball to Kennedy on the left. The Englishman kept the move going beating a defender and slipping the ball into the centre in time for Toñito to catch up with play for an easy tap in and make the score 4-2.
The atmosphere amid the 400 fans was incredible, the best I have seen for years. The Gran Canarian side looked devastated collapsing on the pitch in despair. I thought they had finally been put to bed but how wrong I was.
In the 76th minute the Ref gave the visitors a free kick two metres outside the box penalising Lanzarote´s other Englishman Brad extremely unfairly. What happened next stunned the home fans. Midfielder Figueroa rifled in a drive into the top corner that flew in faster than a bullet. The Gran Canarian side were well and truly back in this match and had 15 minutes to get a result.
Five minutes later and Figueroa fired a low drive from 30 yards which surprised Agoney in goal, the ball crept inside the post to level the score at four apiece. The Lanzarote goalkeeper will be hugely disappointed to let in such a soft goal after such a superb display. His Captain Rosmen ran back offering words of encouragement to Lanzarote´s number one.
It was a nervy finale to the match but the game ended fairly with both sides sharing the points. The Rojillos have the same amount of points as league leaders CD Marino but remain in second spot on goal difference. The Rojillos still are unbeaten at home winning 7 and now drawing 2 of their 9 games.
Lanzarote travel to Tenerife this Sunday and will face Tenerife B this will be followed by the Christmas break then its back on January 4th at home versus UD Ibarra. Check confirmation of date and time of match nearer the time on the homepage or Facebook Lanzarote football club.
GOALS
1-0 min 7 Rosmen
1-1 min 12 Yeray Ortega
1-2 min 19 Romario
2-2 min 40 Mauri
3-2 min 60 Toñito
4-2 min 73 Toñito
4-3 min 76 Figueroa
4-4 min 81 Figueroa
