Ian Lane reports from a very hot Arrecife for Sol y FutbolLANZAROTE 2 ALCALÁ 1
16th November 2009
Lanzarote have won. It may have taken over 1000 minutes of football but finally that 12 game streak without a win has finally been broken.
On another scorching November day with temperatures peaking at around 30 degrees the Rojillos (reds) went about their business in a determined manner. A solid defensive back four with an imaginative midfield and a tireless frontline, combined with a major impact from the two substitutes, gave the Rojillos a deserved victory.
In the opening minutes both sides were nervous and instead of passing short balls, the Hoof up the field proved to be the preferred option. Lanzarote were the first to threaten. A fine ball from midfielder Maikel Padrón to the left wing was met by the ever alert Toñito. The winger skinned his full back and cut the ball back from the byline neatly to the young striker Echedey. The 21 year old did well to find the space but his scuffed effort was easily dealt with by the Alcalá keeper Rubén Martín.
The visitors best opportunity of the first half fell to centre back Joselou. The defender found himself with a free header from a corner just past the half hour mark that narrowly flew past the far post. The Rojillos main threat was down whichever flank Toñito was. In the 35th minute the winger, this time, roasted the left back and blasted the ball low into the danger zone only for a defender to slide in and guide the ball away to safety with Echedey waiting to pounce inside the six yard box.
Lanzarote´s priority for this first half was not to let the opposition score, a feat they have only completed once this term which was on the opening match of the season in a game they went on and secured their only other win.
The game remained scoreless at the break and the home fans egged on by the clubs Mascot (a huge rabbit) felt positive about the second half.
Fifteen minutes after the restart and that positiveness flew straight out the window. A corner for the Madrid side was swung in from the left and following a goalmouth scramble the ball was eventually blasted home from close range by sub Moya.
In the 68th minute the game was going to change with the introduction of the Barnsley boy Ian Robinson. The striker didn’t give the Alcalá defence a second to dwell on the ball winning possession in the opponents final third and gave the ignition that the Rojillos were so desperately searching for.
In the 73rd minute a cross from the left by Vladi destined for the head of the Englishman as he made his run into the six yard box took the tinniest of deflections and unfortunately for Robbo, the ball had too much pace on it to adjust his position in time and the chance went begging.
Two minutes on and Lanzarote were level in spectacular fashion. Robbo stole the ball in the midfield and fed fellow sub Ayoze Pérez on the left wing. The local lad then turned his defender one way then the other and unleashed a dipping swerving shot from 20 yards which smashed the underside of the bar and settled into the back of the net.
With the score now 1-1 Lanzarote were intent on victory. Five minutes from time and Robbo was in the thick of things again. A ball swept in from the left was controlled by the Barnsley lad leaving the defender to launch into an unfair challenge. The referee was ready to blow for a penalty but the official waited a moment and what a good decision it proved to be. So often the hero, Lanzarote´s Captain Vladi came thundering in with a volley beating the Madrid keeper and sending the home fans into unfamiliar territory by taking the lead in a match.
A nervous five minutes plus added time awaited the Rojillos but at the final whistle the relief from the players and fans was hugely evident. No change in the table for U.D. Lanzarote, they are firmly rooted to the bottom but have reduced the deficit for safety from relegation from eight to five points.
Next week Lanzarote travel to Madrid and face Leganés followed by the biggest game of the season at home versus the B team of Real Madrid. Unfortunately I will not be able to produce a report of the match next week due to me being a kind and generous human being as well as one of life’s true romantics. I have purchased my wife a ticket to see her family in Sweden for her birthday and she is the computer wizard of the family and uploads the website. Myself and two Children will remain here where I shall be learning the art of modesty.
Ian will be able to post his Sol y Futbol report with us next week - hopefully.
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