LANZAROTE 4 UD LAS PALMAS B 1
A superb hat trick from striker Gonzalo Di Renzo keeps the Rojillos in the hunt for a playoff finish with seven matches remaining.
Lanzarote got off to the perfect start and within three minutes were 1-0 up. Yeray Cruz did well down the left and pulled the ball back from the by-line and Argentine Gonzalo Di Renzo blasted the ball home for the early lead.
The visitors had not been beaten in 11 matches and replied instantly. After Lanzarote lost possession cheaply in midfield the fifth placed side showed no mercy and with one pass to striker Santana and he hit a deadly curling strike from the edge of the box to level at 1-1.
In the 15th minute central midfielder Fabricio´s intelligent free kick through the middle completely unlocked the Las Palmas defence. Di Renzo muscled his way through two defenders and restored his sides lead at 2-1 planting the ball home with ease.
Midway through the first half and things got even better for Lanzarote. Once again Di Renzo was causing havoc for the Gran Canarian defence, this time down the left wing, his pass in the centre found Traoré who teed up Yeray Cruz and from 25 yards he struck a powerful, curling yet controlled effort that found its way into the net to give Lanzarote a 3-1 advantage.
There was an element of good fortune as the ball hit the inside of the post then touched the keeper before going into the net. Fortunately there is no VAR so the 24 year old who has been promoted from the Lanzarote B team this season has scored his first goal for the club.
Las Palmas were not going to relinquish their playoff position easily and came so close to pulling a goal back in the 37th minute. A well worked move which ended with a powerful volley by striker Pau Ferrer from eight yards looked certain to be a goal, however the Rojillos keeper Alejandro reactions were incredible as he somehow blocked the strike much to the disbelief of the Las Palmas striker.
Lanzarote regained their composure and went into the half time break worthy of their 3-1 lead.
The Rojillos defended from the front with Ismael Traoré and 24 year old Yeray Cruz not allowing the Las Palmas midfield to settle on the ball. Di Renzo is a player who is a gifted centre forward, his heading is second to none, hold up play is exceptional and he can read a game and has that knack of finding the right moment when to make a run. Any manager would be delighted to have a player with those qualities. The forefront of his qualities is his work rate, he will chase anything for 90 minutes and is the ultimate striker who defends from the front.
In the 85th minute a short corner from Ayoze Pérez found left back Isaac. He swung in a fierce cross and of course Di Renzo was the first to react and glanced a header from 12 yards into the right hand corner to complete his hat trick and also become the leading scorer of the division with 14 goals.
Di Renzo being congratulated by Traoré.
The Rojillos comfortably held on to claim maximum points and in doing so moved within two points of todays rivals and a further two points from CD Tenerife B who now occupy that fifth spot.
Next Saturday Lanzarote travel to Gran Canaria to play 11th placed side Arucas CF at 11am.
GOALS
1-0 min 3 Di Renzo
1-1 min 8 Santana
2-1 min 15 Di Renzo
3-1 min 23 Yeray Cruz
4-1 min 85 Di Renzo
