LANZAROTE 4 ESTRELLA CF 0, 19th November 2017

LANZAROTE   4   ESTRELLA CF   0,   19^th November 2017,

The Rojillos put in one of their most impressive performances of the season steamrolling the Gran Canarian side and consolidating their third spot whilst gaining ground on second position and are now just six points off the new league leaders CD Mensajero with a game in hand.

Things are looking great for Unión Deportiva Lanzarote, scoring goals, climbing the league table and playing some of the best football seen in Arrecife for years.

This season’s new manager Maxi Barrera stated on his arrival that you cannot come to Lanzarote and not think of the playoffs. With the squad that he has at his disposal and the quality of football that he has introduced surely his ambitions have to be as Champions.

The first chance of the match came in the 4^th minute when winger Miguel Gómez turned his defender inside out but from eight yards his shot was blocked.

In just the 7^th minute Lanzarote lost central midfielder Marcos Cabrera with an extremely painful dislocated finger. Marcos has only just returned from injury but his current situation shouldn’t keep him on the sidelines for long.

In the 18^th minute sub Fede Manzi saw his effort blocked from 20 yards but the ball fell kindly to right back Krispy and from 18 yards the defender fired against the crossbar.

Five minutes later and attacking midfielder Gastón was put through with just the keeper in front of him but a last ditch tackle prevented a certain goal and kept the match scoreless. A corner in the 28^th minute from the classy midfielder Enrique Castaño from the right reached the far corner edge of the box and Miguel Gómez struck a sweet volley which once again was blocked.

A minute later and Gastón was once again clean through but this time his effort was brilliantly saved with the right foot of the Estrella keeper.

Lanzarote may not have got the breakthrough they had wished for but their play was making the visitors work overtime and rewards would come later.

Five minutes before the break and Lanzarote finally took the lead. A great ball from centre back Raúl found Miguel Gómez at the far post, he superbly volleyed the ball across the goalmouth and striker Trujillo couldn’t believe his luck only to have to tap in at the far post from two yards to send his side 1-0 up.

Two minutes before the break and Captain Ayoze Pérez made a good run down the right hand side and pulled a delicious cross back only to see a defender scramble the ball to safety when Trujillo was ready to fire home.

The visitors thought they had levelled just before the break when a strike from the edge of the box bounced up viciously and came off keeper Sasha, the young goalkeeper then was at full stretch getting a strong hand on the ball as the striker couldn’t force the ball home from two yards.

The Conejeros (Locals) went into the interval with a minimal lead but as they have done many times this season, they had stretched the defence of their opposing side and later on in the game finished the kill as their opponents tired.

Lanzarote completely dominated the second half. Ten minutes in and a wonder through ball from midfield maestro Borja saw Trujillo run onto it down the right hand channel, one touch rounding the keeper and then he passed the ball into the net from a narrow angle to deservedly send Lanzarote into a 2-0 lead.

In the 58^th minute Miguel Gómez wonderfully beat the last defender by passing the ball ahead and then running around the bemused last man, as the keeper advanced Miguel delicately chipped the ball but the Gran Canarian keeper did well at full stretch to get his fingertips to the ball allowing his side to clear the danger.

The only moment of worry in the second half occurred in the 66^th minute sub Juanma should have done better from a header from six yards.

Miguel and Ayoze both had chances to add to the lead before defender Raúl surged through the middle in the 73^rd minute and committed the keeper before sensibly laying the ball to Gastón to stroke home to strengthen the lead to 3-0.

The 17^th placed side must now have been begging for the final whistle. Ayoze and Miguel again came close to extending the lead especially the latter in the 82^nd minute when he tried to dink the ball over the keeper from a tight angle, maybe the better option would have been to square the ball to sub Javi Melian who was free in the middle and would give anything for a goal.

Fortunately Javi Melian only had to wait a minute longer. Another immense performance by skipper Ayoze saw him intercept the ball in his own penalty area then surge forward leaving the backtracking midfield gasping for air, he then put through on goal Gastón who unselfishly laid the ball on a plate for Javi Melian to score a well deserved goal and give Lanzarote a well earned 4-0 win.

League leaders at the start of play UD San Fernando suffered a shock 4-1 away loss to mid table side UD Ibarra on Saturday and CD Mensajero went to the top in emphatic style winning away to bottom club CD Vera 0-7.

Fellow local clubs Yaiza drew 1-1 at home to CD Marino and are in 7^th whilst Haria suffered a 0-3 home defeat to Las Palmas C and are sitting in the last relegation position 18^th.

Next week the Rojillos travel to Tenerife and face 15^th placed side Atlético Unión de Guímar.

GOALS

1-0 min 40 Trujillo

2-0 min 55 Trujillo

3-0 min 73 Gastón

4-0 min 83 Javi Melian