UD LANZAROTE 1 LEGANÉS 2

12th April 2010

A strike in either half by ex Rojillo favourite Anibal Zurdo sends the Conejeros (locals) to the foot of the table, five points from safety with only five matches remaining.

Ex-Rojillo Anibal Zurdo does the damage with a goal in each halfIn the 51st minute Raúl Torres and five minutes later Jonathon Torres had good efforts saved by the Leganés keeper.

Both sides were desperate for three points for two entirely different reasons, Leganés for promotion and cup qualification and Lanzarote for survival in Spain’s bronze league.

As the game entered the final third both sides bypassed the midfield as the long ball became the preferred option. This may sound ugly football but the intensity of the match and the openness of the game was enjoyed by all the fans.

Jonathon Torres was again denied twice in the space of three minutes by the Madrid keeper Raúl Moreno as the Rojillos dug deep, desperate for a goal.

In the 81st minute disaster struck. The Lanzarote back four was comfortably in possession of the ball and with no apparent danger a mix up in defence gifted Anibal the ball with just the Rojillos keeper Vilches to beat. The Lanzarote faithful knew the quality that this striker possesses after his two seasons sporting a Rojillos shirt. The Madrid born player made no mistake with his left foot and with his 14th strike of the season put his side back in the lead at 1-2.

Lanzarote´s most famous fan never shy on expressing his opinionWorrying times for Rojillos manager Carmelo  HernándezThis result leaves Lanzarote with one foot in Spain’s third division. The Rojillos are six points from safety with only 12 points left to play for.

The game began at a fiery pace with Lanzarote producing the first chance of the match. A cross from Raúl Torres found namesake Jonathon Torres and the Rojillos striker powered in a good header but the Real Madrid keeper Adán saved well.

In the 7th minute an exquisite pass through the centre from midfielder Cordero split the Rojillos defence and found striker Juan Carlos. As the Lanzarote defence sprinted back the Real Madrid forward neatly rounded keeper Miguel and sent his side 1-0 up.

Credit to the Rojillos as heads did not drop; on the contrary the Rojillos forced the Madrid side to retreat. In the 12th minute Raúl Torres side stepped his defender on the left wing and from a good 30 yards unleashed a rocket of a shot which was still rising as it flew past the Real keeper to level the score at 1-1. Many of the Lanzarote fans were at the clubhouse in Arrecife watching the match live on Real Madrid TV and were stunned as well as relieved watching the replays of such a terrific strike.

The game remained fairly equal up until half time with the best chance falling to Jonathon Torres. The striker beat the offside trap with a run down the right wing, he cut the ball back but the defender managed to block the pass but in turn laid it back to Torres who shot accurate and powerfully but the Madrid keeper stood his ground and saved well.

The second half the Rojillos came out all fired up and bombarded the Madrid goalmouth with successive corners. The home side were kept on the back foot and offered very little when in possession.

The 65th minute proved to be the deciding moment. A free kick on the right wing for Lanzarote swung in by the trusted left boot of Rubén Rodriguez found defender Moncho unmarked at the back post. The centre back some how completely messed up his header and Real Madrid’s B team broke with pace.

Seconds later and Madrid were deep down the Rojillos left wing. Marcos Alonso chipped the ball back to the penalty spot perfectly to striker Sarbia and with the Lanzarote defence still making their way back the Real Madrid striker calmly volleyed home into the bottom right hand corner giving his side a 2-1 advantage.

This time the Rojillos heads dropped knowing that they must win the match to have any realistic chance of avoiding the drop.

The Lanzarote players looked tired both physically and mentally whereas Real Madrid’s youngsters looked strong and eager to impress Spain’s national coach Vicente Del Bosque watching in the stands.

Manager Carmelo Hernández brought on fresh legs with front men Carlitos and Barnsley boy Ian Robinson but the damage had already been done. In the 80th minute sub Vasquez broke down the right wing and was brought down by centre back Richard. The Ref awarded a penalty and dished out a second yellow card to the defender. Vasquez sent keeper Miguel the wrong way and gave his side a commanding 3-1 lead by blasting the spot kick into the bottom right hand corner.

There was to be no way back for the 10 men of Lanzarote as the clocked slowly ticked away prolonging the pain. Deep into stoppage time and Real Madrid’s second Sub Samuel found himself with a one on one with keeper Miguel and without a defender in sight. The youngster beautifully chipped the Lanzarote keeper who was standing in for the suspended Vilches and completed the 25 minute rout making the score 4-1.

As the old saying goes where there is life there is hope. This Sunday Lanzarote will face mid table Gimnástica. Should Lanzarote pick up 3 wins and a draw from their four remaining matches they would still have a chance.

Personally I believe the bookmakers would give better odds on people travelling to England rather than Lanzarote to pick up a sun tan.