Our Man in Lanzarote, Mr Ian Lane witnesses the Mighty Rojillos move out of the relegation and play-off places. They will be dancing on the streets of Arrecife tonight.LANZAROTE 2 CACEREÑO 1
1st March 2010
Astonishing! U.D. Lanzarote have been in the relegation positions since September and hit rock bottom on the 11th of October when the Rojillos were thrashed 5-0 by this same side.
With this victory the Conejeros (locals) not only move out of the four automatic relegation positions but have avoided the 5th from bottom spot which entails a horrible two legged affair with a hungry third Division side in a play off to remain in Spain’s bronze league.
The game kicked off at an amazing pace and within the first minute Lanzarote believed they had taken the lead. Striker Carlitos flicked on the ball in the heart of the oppositions 18 yard box and Toñito latched onto the pass and fired it home only for the linesman to wave his flag for offside.
The Rojillos dominated possession in the opening stages but rarely threatened. The side from the Extremadura region of Spain seemed happy to sit back and soak the pressure and try and catch the Conejeros on the break.
The first strike in anger was hit sweetly from 25 yards by Jotha. The Cacereño keeper was alert and tipped the ball over for a corner.
In the 38th minute Jotha floated in an inch perfect free kick into the danger zone and Carlitos´s guided header was finger tipped onto the inside of the post and away to safety by the visitors keeper, Polo.
Only a minute had lapsed and the Lanzarote Captain Vladimir unluckily picked up his second yellow card and the Rojillos were forced to play more than half the match with only 10 men.
Importantly Lanzarote saw out the remaining six minutes of the half and went into the break with the game scoreless.
Ten seconds into the second half and the Lanzarote defence were caught napping. Midfielder Rocha found himself through with only Vilches, the Lanzarote keeper to beat. The captain of his side calmly stuck the ball away low into the bottom left hand corner giving his side a 0-1 lead.
These days, the Rojillos rarely crumble and the ten men with temperatures topping the mid 20´s battled on and looked the more likely to score the next goal.
In less than five minutes the Conejeros were level in spectacular fashion at one apiece. Following a corner, the ball fell to Lanzarote´s vice captain Jotha and the ex Real Madrid star hit a dipping volley into the top right hand corner leaving the keeper motionless and sending the home fans into a wild frenzy.
Those two years Jotha spent with Real Madrid’s first team training day in day out with the likes of Beckham, Raul, Figo and the master Zidane was evident to see as that goal was worthy of any match.
Lanzarote had the grit between their teeth and only two minutes later winger Toñito was brought down in the box and the man in black awarded the Rojillos a spot kick. The ever reliable Rubén Rodriguez blasted the ball into the right hand corner sending the keeper the wrong way and incredibly giving his side a 2-1 lead.
In the 58th minute the home side was unlucky not to have scored a third. A corner swung in from the left by Rubén Rodriguez was met by centre back Richard and his glancing header beat the Cacereño keeper but the defender remained on the post and cleared the ball off the line.
With a player less the home side opted for a more defensive approach for the remainder of the match. In the 66th minute the visitors were awarded an indirect free kick only eight yards out. Unsurprisingly the ball was touched then blasted by striker Rai but the ever so alert Lanzarote keeper smothered the ball and kept the enemy out.
Whilst the away side now dominated possession it was still Lanzarote that looked the more likely to add to their 2-1 lead. In the 78th minute sub Jonathon Torres had a good effort saved and a minute later Carlitos blasted from close range but his effort struck the keeper and deflected away for a corner.
The following 11 minutes plus five minutes of stoppage time felt like an eternity to the Lanzarote faithful as the away side wouldn’t relent. The Lanzarote defence stuck to its guns and held on for a brilliant and very important victory against a relegation rival.
Over the next five weeks Lanzarote will face four relegation rivals. First up is next week away to the B side of Sporting Gijón who are third from bottom and only a point away from Lanzarote.
With this victory the Conejeros (locals) not only move out of the four automatic relegation positions but have avoided the 5th from bottom spot which entails a horrible two legged affair with a hungry third Division side in a play off to remain in Spain’s bronze league.
The game kicked off at an amazing pace and within the first minute Lanzarote believed they had taken the lead. Striker Carlitos flicked on the ball in the heart of the oppositions 18 yard box and Toñito latched onto the pass and fired it home only for the linesman to wave his flag for offside.
The Rojillos dominated possession in the opening stages but rarely threatened. The side from the Extremadura region of Spain seemed happy to sit back and soak the pressure and try and catch the Conejeros on the break.
The first strike in anger was hit sweetly from 25 yards by Jotha. The Cacereño keeper was alert and tipped the ball over for a corner.
In the 38th minute Jotha floated in an inch perfect free kick into the danger zone and Carlitos´s guided header was finger tipped onto the inside of the post and away to safety by the visitors keeper, Polo.
Only a minute had lapsed and the Lanzarote Captain Vladimir unluckily picked up his second yellow card and the Rojillos were forced to play more than half the match with only 10 men.
Importantly Lanzarote saw out the remaining six minutes of the half and went into the break with the game scoreless.
Ten seconds into the second half and the Lanzarote defence were caught napping. Midfielder Rocha found himself through with only Vilches, the Lanzarote keeper to beat. The captain of his side calmly stuck the ball away low into the bottom left hand corner giving his side a 0-1 lead.
These days, the Rojillos rarely crumble and the ten men with temperatures topping the mid 20´s battled on and looked the more likely to score the next goal.
In less than five minutes the Conejeros were level in spectacular fashion at one apiece. Following a corner, the ball fell to Lanzarote´s vice captain Jotha and the ex Real Madrid star hit a dipping volley into the top right hand corner leaving the keeper motionless and sending the home fans into a wild frenzy.
Those two years Jotha spent with Real Madrid’s first team training day in day out with the likes of Beckham, Raul, Figo and the master Zidane was evident to see as that goal was worthy of any match.
Lanzarote had the grit between their teeth and only two minutes later winger Toñito was brought down in the box and the man in black awarded the Rojillos a spot kick. The ever reliable Rubén Rodriguez blasted the ball into the right hand corner sending the keeper the wrong way and incredibly giving his side a 2-1 lead.
In the 58th minute the home side was unlucky not to have scored a third. A corner swung in from the left by Rubén Rodriguez was met by centre back Richard and his glancing header beat the Cacereño keeper but the defender remained on the post and cleared the ball off the line.
With a player less the home side opted for a more defensive approach for the remainder of the match. In the 66th minute the visitors were awarded an indirect free kick only eight yards out. Unsurprisingly the ball was touched then blasted by striker Rai but the ever so alert Lanzarote keeper smothered the ball and kept the enemy out.
Whilst the away side now dominated possession it was still Lanzarote that looked the more likely to add to their 2-1 lead. In the 78th minute sub Jonathon Torres had a good effort saved and a minute later Carlitos blasted from close range but his effort struck the keeper and deflected away for a corner.
The following 11 minutes plus five minutes of stoppage time felt like an eternity to the Lanzarote faithful as the away side wouldn’t relent. The Lanzarote defence stuck to its guns and held on for a brilliant and very important victory against a relegation rival.
Over the next five weeks Lanzarote will face four relegation rivals. First up is next week away to the B side of Sporting Gijón who are third from bottom and only a point away from Lanzarote.
On the injury front Rubén Rodriguez, Jonathon Torres are fit. Barnsley boy Ian Robinson went for a scan in Tenerife last week on his injured knee and got the all clear though he will miss the next match. Vladimir will miss the next two games by picking up his 5th yellow card and being sent off. The Lanzarote captain shouldn’t be too disappointed as he would need a week off due to a knee problem, now he has been forced into two weeks rest which I am sure will only serve to better his injury. Striker Rosmen will still be out for at least another six weeks with his broken foot.
At the other end of the table Alcorcón remain top five points ahead of Real Oviedo. Gran Canarian side Universidad is in third with Guadalajara occupying the last play off spot.
At the other end of the table Alcorcón remain top five points ahead of Real Oviedo. Gran Canarian side Universidad is in third with Guadalajara occupying the last play off spot.
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