Image: Sergio Betancort
It had been a while since the public vibrated with the handball of Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote San José Obrero, and on Saturday night they enjoyed the game that their team displayed on the court. Not only was a hard-fought victory achieved against a direct rival in the fight for the promotion phase, but they also won by more than four goals difference, with San José Obrero now having the goal average in their favor in case of a tie at the end of the season. The team trained by Jesús Casanova displayed a great game in goal, defense and attack, with each of its players shining at a great level and seeing how Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava knelt before the superiority of the Lanzarote team.
The first goal of the match was transformed by the fans. The call that had been made throughout the week had an effect, and the stands were filled with a dedicated public that did not stop cheering on their team. With this panorama, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote took control of the game from the start of the match. Filipe Martins and Javier Ortigosa were in charge of putting the first two goals on the scoreboard and giving the first advantage to the Lanzarote team.
Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava was always behind on the scoreboard. The visitors came up against an impenetrable defense from Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote. Jesús Casanova recovered one of his fundamental pieces in the center of the defense for this match, with Juan Jesús Romero returning to play after several months in dry dock. Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote obtained a four-goal advantage in the middle of the first half (10-6), this being its maximum lead in the first half.
The only negative note for Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote in the first half was that they left many second-chance options for Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava. The locals were not able to close the rebounds and allowed second-chance actions, which were used by the visitors to reduce the differences on the scoreboard. With six minutes left until halftime, Jesús Casanova asked for a time-out when the scoreboard reflected a tight 13 to 12. After the instructions on the bench, Nelson Espino with two goals gave the rival a 2-0 run. At halftime, the score was 16 to 14.
The beginning of the second half suggested that it was going to be a very even match. Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava with a 2-4 run managed to tie the match in the 5th minute (18-18), this being the only occasion in which they were close to getting something positive. Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote reacted, managing to get ahead again on the scoreboard with a 2-0 run. Luis Morín's mixed defense on Carlos Villagran annulled the ideas in attack of Balonmano Nava.
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote began to develop an overwhelming game and was increasing the lead as the minutes passed. In the 11th minute, with the score at 24 to 20, the coach of Balonmano Nava had to ask for a time-out. The visiting team failed to stop the game of San José Obrero, reaching a six-goal advantage and a trend that was cut short with the transformation of a double penalty shot by Balonmano Nava.
It was clear that the victory was not going to escape Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote and now the objective was to win by a lead of more than four goals to win the goal average. With eleven minutes left until the end of the match, Jesús Casanova asked for a time-out when he saw how his team was beginning to rush in the attacking actions, even though they were winning by five goals difference (28-23). Balonmano Nava tried to stop San José Obrero with a mixed defense on Nelson Espino, with the locals having more alternatives to break the defense.
With the score of 35 to 28, the match would come to an end. A result that allows Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote to consolidate its position in the third place of the classification, to be one point behind Balonmano Nava and to win the goal average against the second classified. The players of San José thanked the public for their support from the center of the court and the fans paid tribute with an ovation to a squad that made the public vibrate as in the past.
Technical Sheet
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote (35): Juan José "Pichi", Ángel Bonilla, Pedro Teixeira (4), Nelson Espino (9), Chechu, Luis Morín (1), Pedro Noda (5), Javi Ortigosa (7), Juan Jesús Romero, Filipe Martins (7), Rubén Villa, Javier Negrín (2), Alejandro Rodríguez
Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava (28): Dario Ajo (10), Guillermo Campillo (1), David de Diego, Jesús de la Hera, Carlos Domínguez (1), Antonio García (3), Alberto García (1), Cristopher Gómez, Roberto Pérez (3), Ismael Villagran (4), Carlos Villagran (5), Bruno Virseda, Dario Ajo, Ángel González
Partial scores every 5 minutes: 3-1, 7-5, 10-6, 12-10, 14-12, 16-14 (halftime) 18-18, 23-20, 27-21, 29-23, 31-26 and 35-28 (final)
Referees: José Luis Sanz and Víctor Varcácel, from the Madrid Committee. They excluded Luis Morín (1), Pedro Noda (1), Juan Jesús (1) and Rubén Villa (1) for Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote and Roberto Pérez (1) and Ismael Villagran (1) for Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava
Incidents: Titerroy Municipal Pavilion, about 500 spectators. Match corresponding to the 18th day of group B of the First State Men's Handball Division
