LANZAROTE 5 C.D. VERA 1
LANZAROTE 5 C.D. VERA 1, 4th March 2018,
The Rojillos cruised to victory against the relegation threatened Tenerife side and in doing so moved up to sixth spot. The gap to the final playoff spot which is fourth place was two weeks ago ten points but now it is just six points and Lanzarote also have a game in hand.
After a few days of inconsistent weather the clouds dispersed before kickoff and the game commenced with sun and a pleasant 23 degrees. Many people however were suffering from the effects of the Costa Teguise Carnival including myself which was the evening prior.
Lanzarote went in front in the 8th minute when a ball down the left wing from Enrique Castaño found Ayoze Pérez, the Rojillos captain turned his defender inside out and won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.
Ayoze Pérez just about to win the free kick that led to the first goal.
Whilst everyone was waiting for the cross to come in Ayoze floated the free kick to the edge of the box and midfielder Borja from a central position on the edge of the 18 yard box volleyed through a crowd of players into the bottom right hand corner to give Lanzarote an early 1-0 lead.
An excellent game from midfielder Borja including scoring the first goal.
Five minutes later and the visitors came ever so close to levelling the score when a strike from 30 yards took Lanzarote by surprise and keeper Sasha was thankful the ball came crashing back off the crossbar to safety.
This spurred on Lanzarote and from now on in there was to be no mercy. After a couple of half chances for the home side it was a clever low free kick taken from the right wing by Enrique Castaño that opened up the defence on the half hour.
Rosmen got himself in front of the defender and with a powerful diving header from eight yards beat the Tenerife keeper with the ball finding its way into the bottom left hand corner to send the Rojillos 2-0 up.
Rosmen nodding home his first and give his side a 2-0 lead.
In the 33rd minute Borja weaved his way around a couple of defenders then brilliantly rounded the keeper but from a narrow angle he could only hit the left hand post when really he should have finished off his spectacular bit of play.
Borja ripping the Tenerife defence apart but his strike came off the woodwork.
Lanzarote were now completely in control and in the 35th minute Rosmen emphasized this confidence when from just a couple of metres short of the half way line he looked up and saw the keeper on the edge of his box, his sweet strike from the moment it left his boot was destined for goal and everyone watched in amazement as the ball sailed over the keeper into the empty net as Lanzarote went 3-0 to the good.
Rosmen beating the keeping from a couple of metres short of the half way line.
Just three minutes later a great run from Borja down the right was equalled with a delightful cross and waiting in the centre for his hat trick was Rosmen but the veteran striker blasted over from just six yards.
The visitors were really on the ropes and were delighted to hear the half time whistle to get air back into their lungs from a half of just chasing shadows.
All smiles for the Rojillos.
Unfortunately for the Tenerife side they were punched straight back onto the ropes as soon as the second period began.
In the 49th minute Gastón created space on the edge of the box by beating two defenders then laid the ball to Borja who immediately fed Ayoze and the Rojillos captain blasted the ball low into the left hand corner leaving the keeper as a spectator to give Lanzarote peace of mind with a 4-0 lead.
Manager Maxi Barrera wisely made some changes which did interrupt the flow of the Rojillos play but in the 61st minute defender Dani García joined the party when his strike from the right from at least 30 yards beat the unlucky keeper.
Dani García making it 5-0 with a cracking long distance strike.
Many fans believed the keeper should have tipped the ball over however, the surprise, accuracy and the pace of the strike made life difficult for the unfortunate keeper and this goal gave Lanzarote a commanding 5-0 lead.
The strike from Dani was not easy for the keeper clipping the underside of the crossbar with pace.
The Rojillos did put the brakes on and in the 77th minute the tall blond central Tenerife defender Kevin rose above all from a corner to head home to reduce the deficit to 5-1.
Defender Kevin with the consolation goal late on.
Late on Rosmen had another glorious opportunity to claim a hat trick. An inch perfect low cross from sub Fede Manzi was met by the Lanzarote striker, his contact was good but the keeper made a terrific save denying the Lanzarote legend his third goal by deflecting his effect over the crossbar.
Two goals for Rosmen and very unlucky not to get his hat trick.
Next week it could easily be make or break to Lanzarote´s season as they travel to La Palma to face fourth placed side CD Mensajero. The Rojillos trail that last playoff position by six points but it is in their own hands as if they were to win and take maximum points on their game in hand they would climb above CD Mensajero into that precious fourth spot.
The other two island clubs had a mixed weekend. Yaiza grabbed a late winner (1-0) versus third from bottom UD Los Llanos and remain in 10th spot but are 11 points away from the playoffs. Haría remain bottom after losing their fifth game on the bounce away to Las Zocas (1-0) and are an enormous 12 points from safety.
GOALS
- 1-0 min 8 Borja
- 2-0 min 30 Rosmen
- 3-0 min 35 Rosmen
- 4-0 min 49 Ayoze Pérez
- 5-0 min 61 Dani García
5-1 min 77 Kevin
