Image: LanzaroteDeportiva
The two most consistent teams from the previous phase faced each other on Friday night in the final of the Arrecife City Council Regional Cup. CD Tite and CD Arrecife offered a good match on the artificial turf of Agapito Reyes Viera, and the stands were filled with fans who never stopped cheering for both teams. CD Tite was the more successful in front of the goal, taking advantage of the defensive errors committed by their rival, which would end up costing CD Arrecife dearly. CD Tite won 1-3, lifting the trophy as champion of the Arrecife City Council Regional Cup.
The first half was dominated by CD Arrecife, being the team that had control of the game for the longest time. The players coached by Pepe Reguera showed greater intensity on the field, which allowed them to anticipate all the plays of CD Tite. The first warning from Arrecife came in the 8th minute with a through ball from Zakarias to Joshua, and the shot was saved by goalkeeper Marco Machín, sending it out for a corner.
The teams created a lot of danger in set-piece actions. In the 15th minute, Marcos tried for CD Arrecife with a free-kick that went close to the base of the post. And in the 28th minute, the first opportunity for CD Tite arrived. Cristo's free-kick forced goalkeeper Besay to put his hand in to avoid the goal.
When CD Arrecife was at its best on the field, the goal arrived that put CD Tite ahead on the scoreboard. A loose ball in the vicinity of the area was taken advantage of by Iván Vegas. The striker hooked the ball with a powerful shot that would end up going into the corner of the goal defended by Besay. It was one of the first approaches of CD Tite in the first half, showing maximum efficiency in front of the goal.
The first half concluded with a double opportunity for CD Arrecife, with the locals having options to go into halftime with the score tied. In the 44th minute, a shot from Alfonso touched the body of a defender, the ball was left dead at the penalty spot, and Zakarias sent the shot over the crossbar. And in the 45th minute, Zakarias went down the left wing, put the pass back for the arrival of Rafa, who barely missed it. The first half of the match ended with a score of 0-1.
CD Tite would increase the difference on the scoreboard at the start of the second half. A defensive error allowed Josué to stand alone inside the area and beat goalkeeper Besay with a low shot. CD Arrecife recovered from the cold shower and just six minutes later managed to reduce the difference. Ayoze executed a corner kick, goalkeeper Marco misjudged the exit, and the ball ended up going into the back of the net. An Olympic goal was achieved by the CD Arrecife player.
The goal gave wings to CD Arrecife, increasing the intensity on the field again and trapping CD Tite in their own half of the field. There were minutes of overwhelm for the CD Tite defense, with the full-backs being outplayed time and again by the speed of the wingers. In the midst of the suffering came the goal that gave CD Tite peace of mind. The CD Arrecife defense gave a ball back to their goalkeeper, Besay delayed the delivery and ended up giving in to the pressure from Iván Vegas. The striker stole the ball and made it 1-3 into an empty net.
After the goal, CD Arrecife was at the mercy of CD Tite, coupled with the fact that the locals began to play with a defense of three players to go in search of the goal that would get them back into the game. CD Tite could have increased the difference on the scoreboard with another gift from the Arrecife defense. Josué stole the ball, entered the area, and his shot was stopped by Besay. The best option would have been the pass for his teammate Iván Vegas, who was unmarked and in front of the goal.
With the result of 1-3, the match came to an end at the Agapito Reyes Viera Municipal Stadium. The Councilor for Sports of the Arrecife City Council, Paca Toledo, presented the runner-up trophy to the captain of CD Arrecife. José Antonio Valido, president of the Insular Delegation of Lanzarote, was in charge of presenting CD Tite with the trophy as champion of the Arrecife City Council Regional Cup.
Technical Details
CD Arrecife (1): Besay, David, Iván (Tana 73), Julio, Dani (Javi 80), Marcos, Zakarias, Rubén (Alfonso 40), Joshua, Marci and Rafa (Ayoze 46)
CD Tite (3): Marco Machín, Sergio, Gerson, Manuel, Emilio, Yiri, Oliver (Dani 63), David, Iván Vegas (Javi 86), Cristo (Miguel de la Hoz 51) and Josué (Castellano 88)
Goals:
0-1: minute 36, Iván Vegas
0-2: minute 56, Josué
1-2: minute 62, Ayoze
1-3: minute 71, Iván Vegas
Referee: Rafael Yantorno, assisted on the sidelines by Josué Rembado and Carlos Rodríguez. He cautioned Iván and Julio for CD Arrecife and Marco Machín, David, Iván Vegas, Cristo and Josué for CD Tite.
Incidents: Agapito Reyes Viera, about 400 spectators. Final of the Arrecife City Council Regional Cup. Antonio Gutiérrez, founder of CD Arrecife, made the honorary kick-off. A minute of silence was observed in memory of Kevin Pérez, youth goalkeeper of UD Guía, who recently died suddenly.