LANZAROTE 1 U.S. YAIZA 0
LANZAROTE 1 U.S. YAIZA 0,
13th March 2016,
This derby clash did not disappoint. Three red cards, a host of yellow with both teams brawling and finishing off with a superb injury time winner and all played in glorious sunshine.
Traditionally on the week of the woman Lanzarote always show their support by carrying onto the pitch a banner against violence to women.
Prior to the match both sides were in the cafe up the road sharing jokes and laughing however as soon as the Ref blew for kick off there was to be no love lost between these two Lanzarote sides.
The Rojillos looked the brighter of the two teams early on with Louis Kennedy seeing a volley go narrowly past the left hand post in the 7th minute. Two minutes later and Yaiza keeper Doramas did well to save from a diving header from the Lanzarote captain Rosmen, the ball fell kindly to midfielder Vladi but the veteran from 10 yards blasted high and over.
The visitors then began controlling the midfield and which led to a change of pattern of the game. Javi Morales shot over from a free kick and then striker Miguel Yunes in the 29th minute saw his low strike flick off a defender but the Lanzarote keeper was on guard to tip the ball wide.
In the 35th minute Rojillos midfielder Javi Betancort picked up his second yellow card for trailing arms, only minutes earlier he picked up the first yellow for dissent so Lanzarote and not for the first time this season were left to play more than half of the match with just ten men.
Five minutes before the break and Yaiza had a great chance to take the lead when striker Alex broke through but Lanzarote defender Raúl just did enough to force a weakened effort that failed to hit the target.
Rojillos manager Adolfo Pérez was forced to change his game plan at half time to compensate for the man less and took off Ayoze and Ignacio replacing them with defender Acai and winger Toñito.
Lanzarote began the second half at a fast pace. Three minutes into the second period and Toñito latched onto a Rosmen header and fired a powerful half volley which forced the Yaiza keeper into a full stretch diving save.
Kennedy and Toñito were combining well and were the biggest threat to a stubborn Yaiza defence. Twelve minutes into the second half and Yaiza were reduced to ten men when midfielder Robert picked up his second yellow card.
The hosts now had the initiative and were looking far more threatening. In the 63rd minute Mauri came close with a 20 yard volley and two minutes later Vladi struck from 25 yards but again the ball went narrowly over the bar.
In the 71st minute Rojillos manager subbed Kennedy which seemed to surprise most people as the British boy was having an excellent game. Only a minute later Adolfo Pérez almost justified his decision when sub Javi Melián was inches away from connecting from a super Toñito low cross along the six yard box.
In the 80th minute Rosmen saw his low diving header saved from the visitor’s keeper and then just a few minutes later Vladi was brandished a harsh straight red for bringing down a player so Lanzarote were now down to nine men.
Moments later and both sides were involved in a scuffle, Yaiza player Santi seemed to strike out at Toñito which left him floored though the officials did not see the offence. Management from both teams were brought on to try and cool temperatures but these last five minutes or so were going to be played at a feisty pace.
In the 89th minute Javi Melián looked as though he had earned his side a late penalty but the ref waived away the appeals and let play continue. Straight away the visitors broke and Miguel Yunes struck goal bound but the ever reliable Agoney saved well.
Colombian striker Mauri was chasing everything and in added on time won himself a throw and a face to face confrontation with a defender.
The ball was thrown long and cleared to five yards outside the box. Defender Raúl somehow with players congested all around him sidestepped a player and created that tiny bit of space and unleashed a screaming effort into the top right hand corner leaving the Yaiza keeper motionless.
The joy and relief was wild with fans running onto the pitch and players off it whilst the whole of the Yaiza contingent sank to their knees in disbelief.
There were still a few nervous minutes to hold on but that they did which moves Lanzarote up one position to second just one point off league leaders Las Palmas B.
Next week the Rojillos face a mammoth task when they travel to Gran Canaria to play Las Palmas B. The league leaders have won their last four matches on the bounce and have not been beaten since December 6th 2015.
GOALS
1-0 min 92 Raúl Fernández
