UNIÓN SUR YAIZA 3 LANZAROTE 3, 13th January 2019,

UNIÓN SUR YAIZA   3   LANZAROTE   3,   13^th January 2019,

A derby match full of goals, excitement, controversy and played on a beautiful sun drenched day.

The Rojillos (The Reds) began the match as slight favourites but with only two points won in the last five outings on this pitch against their fierce rivals they knew that it was going to be a tough day.

Yaiza began the match at a better pace and in the 17^th minute Lanzarote gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and a cross from the right was fired home by striker Rami to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Only three minutes later Yaiza striker Javi Melián had a good opportunity to double his sides lead but thankfully for a Lanzarote point of view his strike was fired over the crossbar.

Lanzarote´s best chance came just before the half hour when defender Josito sent Rosmen clear. The Lanzarote captain had a clear strike on goal but his effort was closer to striking the nearby Fire Mountains than the Yaiza goal.

In the 35^th minute Adrián Barrera took a free kick on the right. The ball went through a host of players and ended up squeezing into the net at the far post to give Yaiza breathing space with a 2-0 lead.

The visitors had one opportunity before the break to reduce the deficit. Alberto Escudero struck from 15 yards but his effort was well saved by the Yaiza keeper, Ruymán and then a defender cleared the danger.

Every Lanzarote supporter knew that last season’s player of the season Ayoze Pérez would be coming off the bench for the second half to do what he does best and change the course of a game.

Manager Maxi Barrera not only introduced him but also Dani García and moved British boy Brad Cockerill into midfield. Both substitutes added some urgency into the game whilst Brad beefed up the midfield as Lanzarote began to dominate early.

Three minutes into the second period and striker Alex Yunes forced Ruymán into a good save and only conceded a corner.

It was a stunning cloudless day with just a small breeze kicking in from the north. In the 51^st minute Nico González whipped in a brilliant powerful corner into the assisted breeze and this caused mayhem in the Yaiza penalty area resulting in Adrián Barrera firing into his own goal whilst trying to clear the danger. The Rojillos were back in it early with the score now 2-1.

Just three minutes later and it was all square at 2-2. Another dangerous corner was sent into the Yaiza goalmouth and as the ball fell it was Rosmen who reacted the quickest and fired home.

Lanzarote were well on top and in the 66^th minute they thought that they had taken the lead. A cross from the left by Alex Yunes was controlled by Rosmen who then thumped the ball home however the referee adjudged that the Lanzarote captain had his foot raised too high.

In the 74^th minute the ever so alert Miguel Gómez pulled the ball back from the by-line and found striker Nico González whose low shot into the corner completed the turn around to give his side a 2-3 advantage.

This game was far from over. In the 82^nd minute Yaiza striker Javi Melián picked the ball up on the left wing and came inside, he then released a terrific shot which flew into the top right hand corner to level the match at three apiece.

Deep into stoppage time an instant strike from the edge of the area by Miguel Gómez forced the keeper to dive but the ball fell invitingly for Rosmen who stroked it home thinking he had won the match 4-3.Rosmen´s joy ended abruptly when he saw the assistant with his flag raised high for offside denying the Rojillos captain a late winner.

Despite dropping two points Lanzarote climb one position up to 5^th but are now four points from a playoff spot. Yaiza drop one place in the table to 15^th.

Next Sunday 20^th January at 12 noon Lanzarote are at home to 14^th placed Gran Canarian side U.D. San Fernando.

GOALS

1-0   min 17 Rami

2-0   min 35 Adrián Barrera

2-1    min 51 Adrián Barrera (own goal)

2-2   min 54 Rosmen

2-3   min 74 Nico González

3-3   min 82 Javi Melián