LANZAROTE 2 C.D. ATLÉTICO VICTORIA 2
LANZAROTE 2 C.D. ATLÉTICO VICTORIA 2, 21st February 2015
As the match entered into its 91st minute and with the Rojillos leading 2-0, one could have been forgiven for believing that Lanzarote had just secured another home victory. The Tenerife side were having none of that and hit two goals in space of a minute and deservedly secure a point in their bid to avoid relegation.
The game had been moved forward a day earlier as return flights to Tenerife for the Sunday were fully booked due to carnival. The opening half hour of this game was poor with both sides unable to keep possession and neither goalkeeper was tested.
In the 34th minute January signing Adrián Barerrá decided to bring a bit of quality to the game when he whipped in a beauty of a cross from the left. Atléticos goalkeeper dived out to clear the danger but he could only get his fingertips on the ball and pushed it straight into the path of the league’s top scorer Rosmen. The Lanzarote Captain adjusted his feet slightly and with his chest guided the ball into the vacant net for his 22nd goal of the campaign to send his side 1-0 up going into the half time break.
The Tenerife manager made a couple of changes at half time and opted for a three man defence. This was a brave decision by the away side as Lanzarote have been formidable up front this season scoring more goals than any other team in the league.
The 19th placed side made this new formation work well and just four minutes into the second half Lanzarote´s man of the match Ángel Gil had to slide in to clear an effort off the goal line.
In the 56th minute the Lanzarote goalkeeper Rayco who is deputising for the suspended Agoney made two terrific instinctive saves within the space of a couple of seconds from midfielder Galván and striker David.
Midway through the second half great footwork from winger Lele side stepping a couple of Lanzarote defenders before unleashing a fierce drive from 20 yards only to see his superb effort come crashing back off the crossbar and away to safety.
The Rojillos best option of defending was for manager Adolfo Pérez to bring on his talented winger Toñito and so he did. Immediately the Rojillos looked far more dangerous with this new outlet as he took the game to the Tenerife side by dazzling the opponents defence.
In the 86th minute Toñito beat the right back and sent an inviting low ball across the face of the goal. British boy Louis Kennedy was inches from connecting but on the other wing Mauri picked up the pieces and sent in a delightful ball back into the centre and Toñito timed his run to perfection to nod home from close range and give his side a clear 2-0 advantage.
The Tenerife side still did not give in and as some of the Lanzarote fans made their way out of the ground (something that I can never understand as there is never traffic outside of the stadium) the Atlético right back fired in a wonder of a cross into the centre and before the centre backs could adjust their positioning midfielder Ramsés rose and with a text book header low and into the corner whilst wrong footing the Lanzarote goalkeeper gave the Tenerife side a glimmer of hope with the score now 2-1.
The visitors now with nothing to lose and all to gain tore into Lanzarote and immediately won the ball. The centre back was given far too much time and was able to pinpoint his long ball directly into the heart of the Lanzarote back four, the ball fell kindly as a shot was fired in, then another was blocked but it was third time lucky for Atlético Victoria as sub Óscar fired home to rescue a point.
The game was now frantic as Lanzarote went all out to find the winner. In the last seconds of play a long ball was crossed in to the edge of the 18 yard box, the header was won and the Rojillos in form striker Mauri was all alone with just the keeper to beat. Unfortunately for the Colombian his strike from eight yards was miscued as he saw all hopes of victory fly narrowly past the goal.
This draw really tasted more like a defeat but news came through that league leaders CD Marino succumbed to a surprise defeat 2-1 by Las Zocas. Lanzarote close the gap at the top to just two points and the next home match will be against the league leaders. Meanwhile La Palma side CD Mensajero closed the gap to just two points behind Lanzarote with a 1-2 away win.
Next week Lanzarote travel to Tenerife to play 14th placed side CD Santa Úrsula.
GOALS
1-0 min 34 Rosmen
2-0 min 86 Toñito
2-1 min 91 Ramsés
2-2 min 92 Óscar
