LANZAROTE 1 CF ARUCAS 1
LANZAROTE 1 CF ARUCAS 1, 20th September 2015
The Rojillos are one of only two teams who remain unbeaten after their first five games, the other side being league leaders Santa Brígida but they will be bitterly disappointed to have made it three draws in a row in a game they dominated.
The Gran Canarian side are famous within all the Canary Islands for their dark rum and I don’t mean that honey rum stuff. It is called Ron Arehucas normally mixed with coke; locals like to call it Amariilo y cola. One glass is nice but takes its time going down; the next oozes down the throat at a gallop then you normally lose count.
It did seem that the Gran Canarian side must have given Lanzarote a crate load the night before as the Rojillos were not in this game at all in the opening 25 minutes. Possession belonged to Lanzarote but it was the Gran Canarian side that always looked the more threatening.
At least three good opportunities went beckoning for the visitors before they took the lead including a thunderous strike from the edge of the box which produced an incredible fingertip reflex save from the Lanzarote keeper Agoney.
In the 21st minute Arucas took a deserved 0-1 lead. A low powerful cross from left winger Moisés found team mate Iván Suárez who seemed to have so much time on his hands that he could have poured himself an amarillo y cola before neatly planting the ball wide of Agoney into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.
This goal brought Lanzarote to life and in the 25th minute Rosmen had an effort saved from the keeper and the rebound fell to Toñito who saw his effort closed down and blocked by the Arucas defence.
In the 33rd minute a free kick for Lanzarote on the base line and two metres outside the box was beautifully whipped in by Miguel Gómez, Louis Kennedy rose at the far post and knowing that he just needed accuracy as the crossed contained the venom perfectly nodded the ball home leaving the Gran Canarian keeper with no chance and bringing his side back into the game at 1-1.
Lanzarote were now completely dominant but just couldn’t find a way through a stubborn defence as the teams went into the break on level terms.
The crowd truly believed that this game was for the taking and as the air temperature rose to 30 degrees the defence of the visitors had to weaken in the second period.
The Rojillos went out all guns blazing and a goal seemed imminent. Find of the season Lanzarote´s left back Miguel Gómez instigated a brilliant one touch move involving several players but unfortunately the finish did not match the move.
In the 64th minute The Gran Canarian keeper saved superbly from Gómez and a few minutes later Kennedy must have thought he had put his side in front but that keeper Oliver was in fine form producing a stunning one handed save to push the ball around the post when everyone had thought it had gone in.
Lanzarote laid siege to their opponents goal but warrior defending from the visitors managed to earn them a point.
Lanzarote know they must win these types of games for a playoff finish but sometimes this happens. It could have easily been 4-1 but a great team performance by a side with less ability than their opponents has to be praised.
The crowd were magnificent and certainly played their part in a highly entertaining match. It is now astonishing to see so many tourists and residents who love Lanzarote and also follow the local club. The manager Adolfo Pérez and all of his players keep telling me how much this supports motivates them. It is a combined effort from players and fans that Lanzarote have not lost on home soil for 24 matches. Let’s help keep that number ticking along.
Lanzarote travel to Tenerife next week to face the inform CD Vera. After losing their first two matches the Tenerife side have taken seven points in their last three matches scoring three goals in each game. This will be a challenge for Los Rojillos.
GOALS
0-1 min 21 Iván Suárez
1-1 min 33 Kennedy
