CF UNIÓN VIERA 1 LANZAROTE 2
Lanzarote have played four games in their last 10 days and have come out with 10 points out of a possible 12 moving them to within a point of safety with two games in hand.
Our local government still won’t allow fans to attend home games but it was no problem for around 30 supporters to jump on a plane then on a bus and welcomed in Las Palmas by Unión Viera officials at their ground. It really makes our own authorities look ridiculous especially as we have the biggest stadium in the division and a very low Covid infection rate.
From the moment that we all met at the airport both fans and players seemed in a confident jovial mood. Even the bus driver on the team coach offered our pint sized striker Giovanni a booster seat which set the tone for the rest of the day.
The players bus driver offering our new striker Giovanni a childs booster seat.
Once again UD Lanzarote President Juan Carlos Albuixech brought with him some beautiful Bermejo Lanzarote wine as a greeting to the CF Unión Viera President Francisco José Trujillo.
UD Lanzarote President with a gift of some Bermejo wine to his opposing President.
The first half of the match only offered a couple of chances; Giovanni managed to wrap his foot around the ball and connected well with a volley but the ball went straight into the keeper’s hands. Rosmen also had a half chance with a header however this was a routine save for the Gran Canarian keeper. The locals did not trouble Rojillos keeper Alejandro at all during the first period.
At half time I saw winger Miguel Gómez who had been nursing a slight ankle injury for the past week so had been kept on the bench for the past couple of games. I begged him to come on.
Rojillos manager Josu Uribe must have put something in his player’s half time tea as the whole team stepped up a gear with crisper passing and a lot more urgency to their game.
Unfortunately not all went to plan because defender and scorer of last week’s goal Josua Benítez almost immediately had to be taken off with a groin strain, his replacement Daní González who has rarely played at centre back slipped into that position and looked a natural.
On the hour mark the game was to change with the introduction of Miguel Gómez. There is no doubt that this player is a game changer, his skill is outrageous, sometimes it fails as he pushes it to the limit and you can be left feeling frustrated but at other times his quality is of a player who should be playing in a much higher league.
Miguel Gómez delighted by giving his side the lead.
He switched flanks quicker than the fans of the Peña Trifulka were sipping their beers and tormenting both full backs. In the 68th minute he tore the right back inside out and then unleashed a deadly strike into the top right hand corner giving the travelling fans something to sing and dance about in what has been a troubled season.
A wonderful day out for the Lanzarote fans.
With their 0-1 lead the Rojillos confidence rose and they went looking for that second goal. In the 74th minute Miguel Gómez´s intelligent pass paralysed two defenders and fellow sub Guti let rip a ferocious strike from 20 yards, the ball flew into the top left hand corner with the keeper rooted to his position and Lanzarote had breathing space with a 0-2 lead.
The hosts who began the day five points clear of their rivals began to show some fight and in the 81st minute a cross from the left was headed home by Dani Tejera to reduce the deficit to 1-2 and leave the Rojillos with a nervy final ten minutes.
Lanzarote comfortably weathered the home side’s late rally and in their 1000th game in this division the Rojillos were victorious.
The players then came over to show their appreciation to their supporters and after the match enjoyed a beer together showing what great morale there has been between players, supporters and management despite all the difficulties the club has faced.
The players thanking their supporters.
The marathon amount of games just continues as this Wednesday 24th March Lanzarote again travel to Gran Canaria to face high flying side UD Las Palmas C. A few days later on Sunday 28th the Rojillos are home to faltering league leaders UD San Fernando. The club will once again plead with our local authorities to allow fans to attend this home match however up until now the club has been ignored.
GOALS
- 0-1 min 68 Miguel Gómez
- 0-2 min 74 Guti
- 1-2 Dani Tejera
