UD Lanzarote 2 Tenerife B 1
30th April 2012
U.D. Lanzarote kept up their amazing home record after recording their eighth straight home win against a stubborn Tenerife B side.
The game couldn’t have started better for the Rojillos. A cross from the right found striker Echedey and from the edge of the area wrong footed the Tenerife goalkeeper and coolly passed the ball low into the far right hand corner giving his side a 1-0 lead with barely a minute on the clock.
The Conejeros (locals) looked confident and Rosmen came close to doubling the lead in the 11th minute by narrowly missing out on a superb cross from defender Ángel Gil. The Tenerife side were not going to surrender so easily and still had playoff aspirations of their own as they began to threaten.
In the 18th minute a wonder solo effort from striker Alexander whistled into the top right hand corner from a good 25 yards to level the score at one apiece. Chances were limited for both sides in the run up to half time with Echedey coming closest with a strike into the side netting.
Incredibly Lanzarote´s manager Fabián Rivero had to outwit his brother Sesé at half time who is the Tenerife B manager. The Rojillos looked strong in the opening stages of the second half and knew only a victory would be good enough to keep alive their playoff hopes.
Ayoze was causing the Tenerife defenders havoc with his skilful touch and electric pace and in the opening stages of the second period Ayoze and Rosmen missed good chances to restore the lead.
With Lanzarote pushing further up the pitch the visitors had their chance on the break. The Lanzarote keeper Ruymán was kept on his toes and made some important saves during this hectic spell.
The Rojillos still pressured and had corner after corner and in the 87thminute just when it seemed the game would end in a draw the ever reliable central midfielder Vladi was passed the ball back to him and from 10 yards the Ex Levante player drilled in a low powerful shot which flew into the bottom left hand corner sending Lanzarote´s players and fans into delirium.
Lanzarote comfortably saw out the remaining few minutes and jumped up to fifth in the table but are still one point shy of the playoffs. 4thplaced CD Vera scored a late winner against 5th placed Estrella CF and still occupy the last playoff position.
The Rojillos manager Fabián Rivero believed his side deserved the win as they were the more positive but as with all brothers Sesé did not agree feeling that his side at least deserved a point.
It looks as though the all important fourth spot will be a straight fight between CD Vera and Lanzarote. The Tenerife side are the favourites but have two very difficult games left. Next week they will travel to Fuerteventura to take on CD Corralejo who has a very good home record. Their final match is against Las Palmas B and there is never any love lost between Gran Canarian and Tenerife clubs.
Meanwhile Lanzarote will be in Tenerife next week and will surely be involved in a scrap with CD Laguna who moved out of the relegation places last week with a 2-0 win but are still only a single point from safety. The final home game for Lanzarote is against freefalling Estrella CF so the Rojillos will hope that the league season goes to the final day.
