LANZAROTE 1 UD LAS ZOCAS 1
LANZAROTE 1 UD LAS ZOCAS 1, 9th Nov
Unión Deportiva Lanzarote drop their first home points of the season despite taking the lead through top scorer Rosmen and slip two places to fourth spot.
The Rojillos dominated the early stages of the match and in the 12th minute a pinpoint cross from Louis Kennedy found the head of his captain Rosmen but the tall striker headed inches over when he really should have given his side the lead.
On the half hour Lanzarote had the best opportunity of the match when Brad Cockerill struck a half volley from eight yards but unfortunately the 19 year old saw his clean strike deflected wide of the upright and away for a corner kick.
Whilst the Lanzarote keeper Agoney had yet failed to have been tested by the Tenerife side it was the home team that squandered two good opportunities in the closing minutes of the first period.
Defender Ángel Gil fired in a low shot from the right but saw his effort narrowly whisk past the left hand post and then from a free kick midfielder Falo struck well but the Las Zocas keeper fisted away his effort on goal.
Immediately in the second half Lanzarote were on the attack. Kennedy won the ball in midfield and put through Rosmen but the striker failed to beat the keeper.
In the 66th minute Rosmen was finally going to get rewarded for his efforts. A cross from defender Falo was lofted high into the danger zone and with an almighty leap the league’s second highest scorer nodded the ball home to give Lanzarote a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately the Tenerife goalkeeper got clattered by Rosmen in the challenge to get the ball and had to be substituted.
Up until this moment the visitors had offered very little in the way of a threat at the Lanzarote goal but just seven minutes after Lanzarote had gone in front the Tenerife side were level.
A free kick on the right was whipped in low and whilst the Lanzarote defence were slow to react defender Nacor nipped in unmarked and headed his side level at one apiece.
The Rojillo defence has been nothing short of spectacular this season but without the injured centre back Luis Arráez the back four did look frail.
The visitors began to believe they could do what no team has done this season and take points off Lanzarote at home. Their cause was helped eleven minutes from time when Echedey picked up a straight red card and the Rojillos would have to finish off the match with a man short.
Even with the 10 men the home side looked the more likely of the two teams to win the match but the visitors held on to claim a point.
Manager Adolfo Pérez should be very disappointed with this draw as his team were far superior and in all of the six matches played at home so far this looked the easiest in which they should have won.
Lanzarote slip two places to fourth spot though still have a game in hand which is against league leaders CD Marino.
Defender Luis Arráez who was injured in last week’s win away against CD Vera has had a cruciate ligament operation and even though all went well it is extremely doubtful that Luis will be playing again this season. I am sure on behalf of all reading this that we wish Luis a speedy recovery.
Lanzarote will travel to Gran Canaria next week to play Real Sporting San José. The newly promoted side has had a great start to their season and are up to 8th spot following a 2-0 home win last week to Fuerteventura side CD Cotillo.
GOALS
1-0 min 66 Rosmen
1-1 min 73 Nacor
