UD LANZAROTE 0 PUERTOLLANO 1

29th March 2010

U.D. Lanzarote´s recent good form has turned sour following this home loss and only being able to gather one point in their last four games.

The Rojillos began the match badly, conceding in the opening minutes and ended the match even worse.

Less than three minutes had ticked by when Lanzarote conceded and began the afternoon with an even more difficult uphill battle. Ayoze Pérez lost the ball in the centre and being the last defender let in striker Roberto Izquierdo. The Alcalá front man did not turn down this generous gift from the Lanzarote defender and chipped the Lanzarote keeper Vilches giving his side confidence and a 1-0 lead.

The home side was looking to kill off the game early with a second goal but credit must be given to the Lanzarote defence who weathered the initial 20 minutes of bombardment and gradually eased into the match.

Juachi who was playing wide on the left wing and striker Jonathon Torres began to give the home sides defence real problems through constant hard work and battling.

The Rojillos drew level four minutes before the break. Inevitably danger man Juachi flew down the left wing and cut inside beating his defender and was eventually brought down by the Alcalá keeper and the Ref immediately pointed to the spot. The ever reliable Rubén Rodriguez converted the penalty and sent his side into half time with the game level at one apiece.

The Madrid side began the second half as they had begun the first half pinning the Lanzarote back four deep into their own territory. This time the Rojillos managed to hold out for eight minutes. Defender Juani crossed the ball on the edge of the area and Sub Moya headed home from close range giving the home side a 2-1 advantage.

Once again Lanzarote began playing better football when they were staring at defeat and not having much else to lose. Prior to the match Alcalá were sitting fifth from bottom occupying the relegation play off spot two points ahead of Lanzarote who were third from bottom. The importance of this match was obvious as both sets of players showed the commitment expected in a fierce relegation battle with no players holding back on challenges.

The tide had turned and the Rojillos were now dominant in possession with wave after wave of attack. The home side defended deeply and only threatened on the counter attack in search of a two goal cushion.

Finally, in the 73rd minute a great strike from the edge of the area by Juachi beat the outstretched Alcalá keeper and sailed into the far corner of the net and Lanzarote were level for the second time in the match with the score poised at 2-2 with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The closing stages of the match were frantic. In the 81st minute the home side had a glorious chance to take the lead for the third time when they were awarded a penalty. Roberto Izquierdo struck the spot kick well but the ball hit the foot of the post and away to safety.

The reprieve for the Rojillos did not last long. Four minutes into added on time and Lanzarote were dealt a crushing blow. Roberto Izquierdo redeemed himself from his penalty miss by controlling the ball inside the area and powered in a shot which beat Vilches and sent the home fans wild with joy as the ball settled into the back of the net with a 3-2 victory imminent.

The Ref blew straight away from the restart and all the Lanzarote heads dropped looking at the natural green grass of Madrid.

Lanzarote are in big trouble. Only a win will do next week if the Rojillos are realistically going to remain in Spain’s third league for a tenth consecutive season.

Next week the visitors will be Leganés. The Madrid side are in 7th place and six points off the promotion play offs. They will desperately be seeking three points as they are in a battle with six other sides for the final Copa Del Rey (F.A. Cup) spot up for grabs.

However Lanzarote do have a good record against the side that has spent 11 seasons in Spain’s Segunda A (Championship). Over the last five seasons Lanzarote have won this fixture three times and Leganés once with last year being a scoreless draw.