LANZAROTE 0 UD SAN FERNANDO 2

LANZAROTE   0   UD SAN FERNANDO   2,   29^th October 2017,  

On another scorching hot October day with temperatures topping 30 degrees the Rojillos were eventually worn down with their 10 men and succumbed to defeat by the league leaders.

Prior to the match a minutes silence was observed for one of the Rojillos true fans Manuel Díaz known as Mani to his friends. I do not know all the details but I believe he died by getting struck from a vehicle in Arrecife. The 49 year old was flown to Las Palmas but his death was announced on Friday. On behalf of all Lanzarote fans our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

The first half didn’t offer much in the way of goalmouth scrambles or clear cut opportunities. Both sides were tight on their opponents and with most of the play occurring in midfield with chances few and far between.

In the 20^th minute Borja beat the left back but from a narrow angle he failed to fool the keeper at his near post. The visitor’s only sight of goal in the first half was in the 32^nd minute when a free kick was floated in from the right and a downward header was comfortably saved by keeper Sasha Roche.

The remaining stages of the first half were equally as tight with both sides extremely organised defensively but with that constant heat mistakes were going to happen. Lanzarote were without three key players, captain Ayoze Pérez and quality defender Josito both suspended as well as top scorer Javi Trujillo.

Midfielder Echedey forced Sasha into a full stretch diving save in the opening stages of the second half and play began to open up. In response Rojillos sub Javi Melian latched onto a pass from Marcos Cabrera and from 20 yards on the right he connected perfectly but the ball whistled past the far post.

The visitors were playing well so it was disappointing seeing them appeal twice for a penalty, on both occasions the referee booked the player for diving. Less than a minute after their player being booked defender Raúl brought down the same player in a clumsy challenge and picked up his second yellow leaving just 10 of his team mates on the pitch with half an hour to play.

The league leaders used this extra man to their advantage by making Lanzarote chase shadows and stretching the three man defence to the limit. In the 75^th minute they stole the ball in midfield and after centre back Kamara blocked an effort the ball rebounded kindly for striker Abraham who thrashed the ball into the net to give his side a 0-1 lead.

It was not going to be easy for Lanzarote to get back into this game with a man less and chasing the ball with the heat peaking, on top of that they were up against one of the meanest defences in the league who have just conceded seven goals in their twelve games played.

Not only are the Gran Canarian side tight in defence but they are also clearly the league’s top scorers with 29 goals and five minutes after the first goal they once again stretched the three man defence with sub Medina blasting into the top right hand corner from 10 yards to make it 0-2 and for Lanzarote to suffer their first home defeat this season.

Centre back Kamara tried his best as a striker and had one good chance that he struck just over the bar but it was all too late. The Rojillos slip to sixth spot and are two points from a playoff spot and a further five points from the leaders.

Lanzarote will travel to Gran Canaria this Wednesday and play 16^th placed side CF Pulido followed by Sunday 5^th November at 12 noon the big home derby match versus a confident CF Haría.

U.S. Yaiza and CF Haría played out their own derby match last Sunday with Yaiza going into the match in fantastic form taking 19 points out of a possible 21 whilst Haría are struggling in the relegation zone. Haría won the match with a goal 10 minutes from time to send their many travelling fans from the valley of a thousand palms delirious and catapult themselves up to 14^th spot.

GOALS

0-1 min 75 Abraham

0-2 min 80 Medina