LANZAROTE 1 UNIÓN VIERA 1

LANZAROTE   1   UNIÓN VIERA   1

24th November 2013

Lanzarote have been defeated by the top three sides in the past three weeks but their losing run came to an end but only just against a very good Gran Canarian side.

The visitors began the match the much better of the two sides and held possession of the ball well and it didn’t take long for striker Borja Herrerra to see his first strike narrowly fly over the bar.

In the 16th minute it was of no surprise that the Gran Canarian side took the lead through number nine and easily man of the match striker, Peraza. He latched onto a pass through the centre and was well marked by a Rojillo defender when he brilliantly half turned leaving his defender and Rojillos goalkeeper Aridane shocked and helpless as the ball found its way into the net giving the away side a well deserved 0-1 lead.

A few minutes later and the visitors could have been two nil up when midfielder Samuel had a great opportunity with a free shot on the edge of the box but fortunately for a Lanzarote point a view he failed to hit the target.

The Rojillos finally began to wake up after then second snooze button went off. In the 23rd minute a free kick was curled into the visitor’s danger zone and Lanzarote´s man of the match central defender Fran Gil´s attacking header was clearly handled by a defender and the Ref immediately pointed to the spot.

Following a penalty miss by captain Jotha the previous week striker Rosmen stepped up to take the spot kick. Last season’s top scorer struck the ball well but too close to the keeper, the ball rebounded off the keeper but fortunately it fell kindly back to Rosmen who made no mistake on his second attempt and levelled the score at 1-1.

A couple of minutes later and Unión Viera had a wonderful opportunity to regain the lead. A free kick 10 yards from the edge of the area was blasted goal bound by midfielder Omar, Jotha blocked the effort in the middle of the Lanzarote wall only for the Ref to point to the penalty spot. The entire Rojillo team argued that Jotha was standing outside of the box and either way he had no chance of getting out of the way of the strike. As always the Ref had made his decision and a penalty it was.

Omar struck the spot kick low but the Lanzarote keeper saved superbly and as the ball spun around Omar fired in again only for the keeper to produce a fine double save by smothering his effort and keeping his side on level terms.

The pace of the match dropped significantly but late on Echedey fired in a volley which was well saved by the Gran Canarian keeper as both teams headed into the half time break level pegging with all to play for.

The second half was much more equal possession wise however the visitors did look more threatening in the final third with striker Peraza making good runs and when in control of the ball had the Rojillo defence always on red alert.

Lanzarote central defender Fran Gil did incredibly well tracking those runs and stamping out the danger. Very rarely in a game is a striker awarded man of the match but the second best player on the park is the man defending him but this was the case and both men should be proud of their performances.

Six minutes into the second period and a good cross from the visitors was met by striker Claudio but his header narrowly went wide of the far post.

In the 56th minute Rojillos manager Adolfo Pérez decided to take a more direct approach and brought on front man Yaco and central midfielder Raúl in order to control the centre.

Striker Peraza thought he had put his side back into the lead when he received the ball from a one two and neatly placed the ball into the corner of the net only to see the linesman waving his flag for a close offside decision.

Late on both sides were intent on claiming all three points, Rosmen was put through in a one on one situation with the keeper but he delayed his strike enabling the keeper to smother the ball whilst in added on time a header by Yaco went disappointingly over the bar.

This draw means that the Rojillos slip one place to 12th spot and are eight points adrift of the play off positions. Next Sunday Lanzarote travel to Gran Canaria and face the much improved UD Vecindario.

GOALS

0-1   min 16 Peraza

1-1 min 23 Rosmen