U.D.LANZAROTE 1-5 BUZANADA.
LANZAROTE 1 CD BUZANADA 5, 18th September 2016,
The Rojillos record of 43 home matches since a defeat ended in dramatic and devastating style against a side who have just been promoted to the Tercera Divison on Sunday afternoon.
Starting Line-up.
Anyone witnessing this match would have seen Lanzarote were not at their best however the Tenerife side played some fantastic quick and neat football and with striker and man of the match Gerardo putting in a performance that I have not seen for many years by a visiting player, Lanzarote were simply blown apart.
Not only did Gerardo score four but he was so close with several more and the panic with the Lanzarote defence was evident as soon as he had the ball.
One must congratulate Lanzarote first; many fans have never seen a home defeat as the Rojillos last defeat 44 games ago was against UD Vecindario of Gran Canaria on the 12th April 2014. Two full seasons have passed which included 27 wins and 16 draws. Even the mighty Barcelona had gone 31 home games since a defeat but a shock loss to strugglers Malaga ended that run. Congratulations to manager Adolfo Pérez and every player over the last two and a half years.
The first goal arrived midway through the first half, a poor defensive header from stand in Captain Ángel Gil gifting the visitors a corner. The corner kick was headed back across goal from the far post and the Rojillo defence failed to deal with the situation as the ball fell in the six yard box to the foot of midfielder Samu who rifled it home into the top corner and sending his side 0-1 up.
In the 33rd minute the Tenerife side were just a whisker away to double their lead. Gerardo picked up the ball on the edge of the box and blasted low, the Lanzarote keeper Alejandro was well beaten but he was grateful to see the ball just whistle past the left hand post.
There were one or two Lanzarote players who can be excused for this humiliating defeat and one of those is midfielder Borja. In the 35th minute he raced down the left wing hitting the by-line and put in a teasing low cross but unfortunately he hadn’t been told that the majority of his team mates were not on the same wavelength as nobody was there to apply the finishing touch.
Borja, one of the few who can hold their head high.
Two minutes later and a great through ball found Ayoze Pérez in the centre but he seemed to be caught in two minds and ended up with a tame header easily picked up by the Buzanada keeper.
In the 40th minute the visitors doubled their lead. An awful headed back pass was intercepted by Gerardo and he was brought down by keeper Alejandro. The number 11 Gerardo took the spot kick and beat the keeper with the ball inside the left hand post despite a good dive from the Lanzarote keeper.
The Lanzarote players must have not been looking forward to the half time team talk as their manager must have given them the full hairdryer treatment.
The girls still had fun and vow to be back.
Adolfo Pérez had already made one substitution before half time with Toñito replacing Miguel Gómez. At the break he brought on defender Krispy and striker Javi Mélian in exchange for Ayoze Pérez and Ángel Gil using up his full budget of substitutions with half a match to play.
The home side looked much better and just a minute into the second period a good low cross from Dani López across the six yard box looked certain to reach striker Javi Mélian but the defender nipped in and got a toe on the ball diverting it for a corner.
The disappointment of their first Lanzarote match was eased with a few swift ones.
Just as Lanzarote looked as they were getting a foot hold in the match the visitors hit their opponents on the break in the 52nd minute. Gerardo turned his defender and planted a low shot wide of the Lanzarote keeper into the right hand corner and in off the post to send his manager, team mates and their few fans into ecstasy with a 0-3 advantage.
Toñito reduced the deficit with a wonder free kick into the top corner to give his side some hope at 1-3 with a little over fifteen minutes to play.
Reading the new Lanzarote football annual would have been better than watching them play today.
With Lanzarote pouring forward it left openings at the back and only a good save from the Lanzarote keeper prevented the visitors restoring their three goal advantage in the 80th minute.
That three goal advantage was restored just four minutes later when a cross from the right to the far post was powerfully headed into right hand corner completing a brilliant hat trick for Gerardo and giving his side a 1-4 lead.
In the 90th minute Gerardo stamped his authority on this match when he turned a couple of defenders and unleashed a vicious strike from 15 yards which sailed into the top right hand corner to seal the 1-5 win. Some fans booed him but also many Lanzarote fans applauded his outstanding performance.
The Conejeros (locals) may have been without their captain Rosmen, keeper Agoney and midfielder Javi Betancort but the pure fact of this was the sheer quality from a side who had only won one of their opening four games.
It was an awful performance however after five games Lanzarote are in seventh spot just three points behind league leaders CD Marino who are also the next visitors to Lanzarote on the 2nd October. Next week Lanzarote play in Tenerife against 16th placed side CD Vera.
GOALS
min 25 0-1 Samu
min 40 0-2 Gerardo (penalty)
min 52 0-3 Gerardo
min 74 1-3 Toñito
min 84 1-4 Gerardo
min 90 1-5 Gerado
