LANZAROTE 1 U.D. LAS ZOCAS 1
LANZAROTE 1 U.D. LAS ZOCAS 1, 20TH Dec 2015
The Rojillos extend their unbeaten home run to a mighty 30 games but again it needed a late goal to keep that record intact.
What a day to watch a football match with a pleasant sunny sky and temperatures topping 24 degrees just a few days before Christmas. To all the holidaymakers that I spoke to, watching a game of footy in shorts and a T shirt and grabbing a beer from the bar for one Euro life could hardly get better.
The first chance of the match fell to British boy Louis Kennedy, a super cross from the right in the 7th minute found the winger but unfortunately his diving header from 6 yards was inches wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.
The Tenerife side certainly didn’t arrive in Lanzarote to sit back and enjoy the sun; they looked dangerous on the counter attack and in the 18th minute striker Cristian waltzed past a couple of defenders and the Lanzarote keeper Agoney was forced into a good low save.
The Tenerife number seven Cristian proved to be a handful for the Lanzarote left back Ignacio in the first half but the Lanzarote defender got the better of him in the second period.
In the 24th minute a fierce curling cross from Lanzarote midfielder Vladi midfielder flew across the six yard box screaming for the Lanzarote captain Rosmen to head it home however Lanzarote´s top marksman was only five yards away from me in the stand due to a knee injury. It was evident our tall striker was a missing link up front. He did laugh when I shouted out “where are you Rosmen”.
Just a minute later and a long cross from the left was misjudged by a defender and Toñito waited for the ball to bounce a second time and then blasted low at the near post but the Tenerife keeper produced an excellent save.
Five minutes before the break and Vladi fed Kennedy on the left and the winger fired in a great cross along the penalty spot and in form striker Javi Melían got a toe onto the ball which only put the ball wide whereas midfielder Javi Betancort was running through the middle and would have had a free crack at goal.
On the stroke of half time a rapid counter attack saw the visitors take the lead. Striker Manu latched on to a through ball and fired wide of the Lanzarote keeper into the left hand corner to give his side a 0-1 lead to take into the break.
The second half saw Lanzarote dominate however it took 10 minutes for the home side to create a good opportunity. Toñito cleverly brushed aside his defender when he was second favourite to get to the ball, in doing so the keeper was way out of position but the talented wingers chip went horribly wrong to the relief of the Tenerife defender.
In the 62nd minute Ignacio who now seemed to be growing in confidence sent in a cross from the left wing to the far post and Mauri powered the ball towards goal and Echedey put his foot to the ball but saw his effort fly off the crossbar.
By now Lanzarote were firing on all cylinders and attacking from both wings with Toñito and Kennedy supplying from the left whilst sub Mauri was causing havoc down the right.
In the 82nd minute a quick free kick by Vladi found Ignacio who beat his defender and was clearly brought down for a Lanzarote penalty.
In the absence of regular spot kick taker Rosmen it was down to Louis Kennedy to keep Lanzarote´s home unbeaten run going. Kennedy´s mum Jacky had her heart in her mouth but she needn’t have worried as he made no mistake sending the keeper the wrong way and slotting the ball into the right hand corner to level at one apiece.
The Rojillos fired everything they had for the closing minutes but could not find the winner. Lanzarote are level on points with CD Cotillo. The Fuerteventura side have been in deadly form recently. Since beating Lanzarote at home they have won seven on the bounce and look a dead cert for at least a playoff spot.
Lanzarote´s next match is away but has been brought forward to Wednesday 23rd Dec in Tenerife versus fifth placed side UD Ibarra.
GOALS
0-1 min 45+1 Manu
1-1 min 82 Kennedy (penalty)
