LANZAROTE 2 UD GRAN TARAJAL 0
Fans, players and management of UD Lanzarote could not have dreamt on how every single result over the weekend went their way.
The only side in the top seven teams to win was Lanzarote. Incredibly four of those sides lost and the two that drew played each other and the 1-1 result was the perfect outcome for the Rojillos.
All of the Lanzarote players wearing a T shirt in support of the brother of Kilian who has a serious illness.
Lanzarote are now on level points with CD Tenerife B who are sitting in the fifth and final playoff position. Even though the Rojillos have a superior goal difference they remain behind Tenerife as the advantage goes to the team with the better head to head record.
The Fuerteventura side began the day second from bottom and seven points from safety. It was evident early on that their game plan was to defend and hope to hit the Rojillos on the break.
In the opening half hour Lanzarote could not find their rhythm, the basic aspects of football, passing and control had deserted them, but in the 33rd minute the Rojillos 36 year old captain Ayoze Pérez burst down the left wing breezing past the right back and delivered a cross, unfortunately the league´s top striker Gonzalo Di Renzo was just inches away from converting.
Less than two minutes into the second half and a precise long pass from centre back Agoney, standing in for the injured Raúl found Di Renzo on the left, the Argentine cut the ball back and midfielder Fabricio shaped his body to side foot the ball into the top right hand corner to give Lanzarote a 1-0 lead.
Fabricio celebrating his goal Samba style.
Gran Tarajal rarely threatened the home side. Winger Celes looked the most dangerous and whilst his trickery was admired for all to see he had no support and was easily crowded out by the Rojillo defence.
Lanzarote really needed the cushion of the second goal and on the hour mark a powerful low strike from Fabricio from 20 yards crashed against the left hand post but a second goal seemed inevitable.
In the 66th minute Traoré fed Di Renzo down the right, the big number nine turned his defender and sent a low and hard cross along the six yard box; Yeray Cruz had read the situation and beat his opponent to the ball to slot home his second goal for the club and to give his team a 2-0 advantage.
Yeray Cruz killing the game with the second goal.
There was no way back for the visitors. Lanzarote really began to play with style, the passing that eluded them in the first half was now one touch, pinpoint and close to perfection, they were running rings around their opponents.
Rojillos manager Mateo García for the second week running had the luxury of being able to rest a few players as he made several substitutions.
Lanzarote had chances to extend their lead most notably in the 74th minute when left back Isaac let rip from 25 yards but the keeper managed to parry the ball away. Seven minutes later and after some lovely combination play Di Renzo struck from 12 yards but the ball flew narrowly over the crossbar.
It was an incredible weekend for everyone involved with the club and with five games remaining Lanzarote is on the verge of a playoff spot or could they claim top spot with all the other teams around them faltering?
Next Saturday will be an extremely difficult match. The Rojillos travel to Tenerife and face 8th placed side CD Santa Úrsula. Last Sunday Santa Úrsula became the only side to beat league leaders CD Mensajero on their own turf (1-3). They are five points from Lanzarote but if they could win on Saturday they will become serious playoff contenders.
GOALS
1-0 min 47 Fabricio
2-0 min 66 Yeray Cruz
