ARUCAS CF 1 UD LANZAROTE 1
ARUCAS CF 1 LANZAROTE 1, 8th October 2016,
Lanzarote’s stuttering start to the season continues as they earn just their third point in their last four outings. With striker Dani López leaving the club and with Captain Rosmen who has been out for three weeks through injury and will not be returning for at least a month there is no doubt the Rojillos are lacking firepower upfront.
The day did not begin well for manager Adolfo Pérez with defender Raúl unable to travel due to illness just hours before the flight to Gran Canaria. Fran Gil was drafted into the starting line up for his first game of the season, the Lanzarote centre back had been out with a minor knee injury and a hernia operation.
The opening half hour was even with possession though Lanzarote had three opportunities with Kennedy, Marcos Cabrera and Ayoze Pérez all coming close to breaking the deadlock.
In the 33rd minute Louis Kennedy was only a whisker away from celebrating his 23rd birthday with a goal but his strike from the edge of the area went inches wide of the keeper’s right hand post.
Three minutes later and Arucas striker Omar Rodríguez saw his effort come back off the left hand post and just before the break the hosts again came close with a header as they went into the break on the front foot.
Starting XI.
Three minutes into the second half and a defence splitting one two let in Omar Rodríguez . The Gran Canarian striker who has just returned to the island from his stint with Real Madrid under 18´s slid the ball beyond Rojillos keeper Alejandro Martín and inside the right hand post to give the second from bottom side a 1-0 lead.
Lanzarote then had a couple of opportunities to level with Miguel Gómez creating chances for Ayoze Pérez and Toñito but they failed to convert the good work from Miguel.
With the Rojillos pushing forward to get back in the game the Gran Canarian side almost caught out Lanzarote on a couple of occasions and had they doubled their lead it would have been difficult to see a way back for the visitors.
In the 76th minute a free kick from Borja Vera found Miguel Gómez slipping past dormant defenders on the blind side for a tap in at the far post to level at 1-1.
Both sides had chances to win the match and in the final passage of play Toñito was sent through with a one on one with the keeper from a delicious through ball from sub Javi Melian. The stand in Lanzarote captain didn’t connect properly to the ball as it sailed wide for a goal kick.
This may not be the perfect start to the season for the Rojillos but still after eight games they are just three points adrift of the playoffs and a further two points off top spot. League leaders El Cotillo slip to second after being ripped apart 4-1 by lowly CD Vera as CD Marino return to the top after a 1-1 draw against Santa Brígida.
On Wednesday 12th October Lanzarote have their second away game within a week when they once again travel to Gran Canaria to face third placed side Las Palmas B. The next home game is on Sunday 16th October versus fourth placed side Santa Brígida.
GOALS
- 1-0 min 48 Omar Rodríguez
- 1-1 min 76 Miguel Gómez
