LANZAROTE   1   UD VILLA SANTA BRÍGIDA   1   (Santa Brígida win 1-2 on aggregate)

The Rojillos season is over following a 1-2 aggregate defeat to UD Villa Santa Brígida played in front of the largest crowd Arrecife stadium has seen in at least five years.

Lanzarote went into this second leg of the playoffs trailing 1-0 from last week’s away match, nevertheless if the Rojillos had won this game by whatever score they would have progressed to the next round of the playoffs as they had finished higher in the league than their rivals.

On entering the stadium many fans were surprised and delighted to see a large digital scoreboard and an outstanding stereo system which all added to the carnival atmosphere for the 2500 fans.

Prior to kick off striker Gonzalo Di Renzo was presented with the trophy of “Player of the Season” by former Rojillos captain Rosmen and Pedro Cabrera from Cabrera Medina. Fan Dave Bateman who helped putting up posters in PDC presented Di Renzo with a signed shirt from his team mates and backroom staff.

Lanzarote began the game well and in the 4^th minute Di Renzo broke through the heart of the defence but the ball just wouldn’t come down in time to lay it into the path of Traoré who was free to strike at goal.

Midfielder Fabricio then saw his effort from 25 yards just whistle past the far post, Keita saw his low shot beat the keeper but the ball was cleared off the line by a defender and in the 23^rd minute centre back Raúl forced the Gran Canarian keeper into a good save fisting the ball away from a 20 yard free kick.

The Rojillos were looking dominant but then out of nowhere attacking midfielder Josemi fired in a beauty from 20 yards into the left hand corner to give his team a 0-1 lead and send them 0-2 up on aggregate.

This goal took the wind out of Lanzarote´s sails but gradually they found their feet again and looked the more dangerous side as halftime approached. The visitors had defended superbly in this half and all was going to plan and with their only strike of the half being deadly giving them that two goal aggregate cushion.

Lanzarote continued to press and ten minutes into the second period captain Ayoze Pérez was inches away from connecting to a header inside the six yard box from a Keita cross.

On the hour mark the hard working Traoré began to tire and was replaced by Yeray Cruz. The player promoted from the B team immediately began to impress and a couple of minutes after coming on broke through two players in the centre of midfield and fed Ayoze Pérez on the edge of the box. Ayoze passed the ball into the path of Adrián Machín but from 12 yards he could only hit the side netting.

Finally in the 71^st minute a shot come cross hit the crossbar, Di Renzo was first to react and his header was saved but the rebound fell back to the league´s top scorer and he made no mistake nodding home on the second attempt to level the score. The Rojillos were now level at 1-1 but they trailed the Gran Canarian side 1-2 on aggregate.

There were 20 minutes remaining and with the crowd urging them on Lanzarote new that just one more goal would see them into the semi finals.

Credit to Santa Brígida as they regained their composure immediately and had done exactly what they had done this whole match and that was to defend superbly and slow the game down as much as possible in the soaring heat.

The Rojillos kept going but were just not capable of creating that one chance. The referee blew his whistle once the four minutes of added on time had been completed and ended UD Lanzarote´s season for 2022/23.

Lanzarote may have failed in the playoffs and it is especially disappointing after ending their last 11 matches of the league season with seven wins and four draws but overall it has been a good campaign from manager Mateo García´s men. The club will now be working on the squad for season 2023/24.

GOALS

0-1 min 31 Josemi

1-1 min 71 Di Renzo