Sol y Futbol: The dream is over for UD Lanzarote this season.

Ian Lane reports from Arrecife as Lanzarote miss out on a quick return to the 3rd level of Spanish football.  I would like to thank Ian for providing us with the seasons reports - our man in Lanzarote - and wish him a good summer break.  Remember if you are on the island over the summer, pop along to the UD Lanzarote stalls at Teguise (not Costa - the real Teguise)  market every Sunday. Buy some merchandise and if Ian's not on holiday have a chat with him.  We will be returning next season for our 3rd year of Sol y Futbol, with Ian and UD Lanzarote.

LANZAROTE 2 U.D. ALMANSA 1


The dream of an instant return to Segunda B (league 1) for Unión Deportiva Lanzarote is now over. Lanzarote put up a fantastic performance in front of around 3000 fans and were generously applauded by their faithful after their semi final 3-2 aggregate loss to the Albacete side.

Already two goals down from the first leg the Rojillos needed a good start to the game. The visitors were expecting an explosive opening to the match and from the moment the Refs whistle was blown they surprised Lanzarote by going all out attack. These tactics proved invaluable because after only three minutes the side from Albacete in Spain found that all important away goal.

The visitors looked pumped up for the match and gambled in the early stages knowing that one goal would just about kill off the home side and their support. After a flurry of activity the Lanzarote keeper Ruymán produced a great save from a strike on the edge of the box. Unfortunately for the Lanzarote number one the ball fell kindly to danger man Rubén Jurado on the by line, he then fed midfielder Santi who blasted in a strike destined for goal and as Lanzarote midfielder Vladi tried to block the effort he only succeeded in deflecting the shot into the opposite corner. 0-1 down after three minutes and a mountain to climb.

The Rojillos now needed four goals if they were to reach the final of the play off. Their heads did not drop and Lanzarote got on with their task of reducing the deficit.

In the 15th minute Jonathan Torres was put through and with the keeper committed, Torres chipped the ball over the advanced keeper but put too much weight on the lob and horribly messed up a great chance to get his side back into the game.

Winger Toñito was causing problems galore for the visitors supplying superb crosses and fantastic runs down either flank. Mid way through the half and good passing in the Lanzarote midfield stretched the defence of Almansa allowing Toñito a strike at goal from eight yards but a defender dived in at the final moment preventing a certain equalizer.

Finally in the 33rd minute a 20 yard free kick beautifully curled around the wall and into the stationery keepers top right hand corner by Rubén Rodriguez leveled the score on the day and gave hope to the Rojillos. The Rojillos ended the half on a high but were just unable to score a second.

The Conejeros (locals) came out for the second half in determined fashion. Only four minutes had passed when Ayoze struck an absolute peach. The ball fell to the talented midfielder 30 yards out and after the second bounce he wrapped his foot around the ball and unleashed a rocket which was still rising at it flew into the top right hand corner.

Two more goals needed with 40 minutes remaining and suddenly the Rojillos dream of a remarkable comeback looked on. The crowd was urging to push forward and the Rojillos obliged.

Javi Morales, Toñito and Ayoze all came close but as the game progressed the Rojillos became more and more desperate and played the final five minutes with a deserted defence.The visitors had two wonder chances late on but failed on both attempts as the Rojillos fought with every lost drop of strength to pull something out of the bag. The Ref then confirmed the inevitable that Lanzarote will still be playing their football next season in Spain’s fourth league.

After following Spanish football, predominately U.D. Lanzarote over the past 14 years I am still learning about the rules and regulations regarding lower level football in Spain. I did not think for a moment that when the league came to an end it could take a further six weeks to achieve promotion especially if your side had won the league.

So happened my family and I had booked our holiday to Jersey and then onto my wife’s homeland to visit the outlaws in Sweden, so if Lanzarote had reached the final I would have been left with a tricky decision. The Lord works in mysterious ways as the choice no longer exists, so from 18th June its Bon Voyage!

GOALS

0-1min 3 Vladi (own goal)
1-1min 33 Rubén Rodriguez
1-2min 49 Ayoze