Image: Sergio Betancort
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote continues to grow stronger as a local team, and on Saturday, they achieved an important victory against Balonmano Arroyo. A 26-22 victory that allows them to stay close to the second position and not lose the chance to seize a second position that would give them the right to play in the promotion phase to the higher category. The Valladolid team of Balonmano Arroyo sold the defeat very dearly, and it was not until the final stretch of the match that Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote could open the gap on the scoreboard and score the victory by 26 to 22.
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote faced the match with several absences in its squad. Rubén Villa due to illness, Juan Jesús Romero with knee discomfort, and Nelson Espino suspended, could not participate in this match. The first minutes of the match were dominated by Balonmano Arroyo, with the Valladolid team having a four-goal advantage on the scoreboard. Jesús Casanova had to make several changes in the defense, moving Ortigosa to the center position, Pedro Noda on the right wing, and Pedro Teixeira on the left wing.
The changes gave the expected results, and Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote would begin to reduce the differences on the scoreboard and equalize the match. A seven-meter throw converted by Javier Ortigosa gave Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote a two-goal advantage with four minutes remaining in the first half. And Rubén Caraballo with a good outside shot increased the difference to three goals, this being the maximum lead they had in the first half. With the score of 13 to 10, the first half came to a conclusion.
The second half of the match began with a Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote that seemed to want to settle the match quickly, increasing the difference to five goals. Balonmano Arroyo would never throw in the towel and never allowed the local team to pull away on the scoreboard. The Valladolid team achieved a 1-3 partial to get within one goal of Ciudad de Arrecife (18-17) and would tie the match with ten minutes remaining (20-20).
In the final stretch of the match, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote used their experience to leave the two points in the Titerroy Pavilion. A good play by Pedro Teixeira served to put Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote ahead. Sergio Bonilla under the posts was also decisive in not allowing Balonmano Atrroyo to react. He stopped a seven-meter throw by José Manuel Rodríguez, leaving the score at 23 to 22 in favor of the Lanzarote team with seven minutes remaining. Javier Ortigosa and Filipe Martins were in charge of putting the score at 25 to 22, almost settling the match.
In the final minutes, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote played very intelligently and concluded each of the attacking plays on the verge of being passive. The objective was for the minutes to pass and for Balonmano Arroyo not to get closer on the scoreboard. With the result of 26 to 22, the match came to an end, with Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote adding an important victory.
The competition takes a break next week and will return on the weekend of March 8. That day, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote moves to Gran Canaria to face the always complicated Gran Canaria Villa de Ingenio. An exciting Canarian derby in which the Lanzarote team is obliged to achieve victory.
Technical Sheet
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote (26): Sergio Bonilla, Ángel Bonilla, Pedro Noda (6), Chechu, Javier Negrín (2), Luis Morín (1), Javier Ortigosa (5), Jesús Rodríguez, Pedro Teixeira (6), Alejandro Rodríguez, Rubén Caraballo (3) and Felipe Martins (3).
Gerovida Balonmano Arroyo (22): Alfonso Mayo, Álvaro Cano, Francisco Javier Andrés, José Manuel Rodríguez (1), César Carrascal (1), Jorge Lebrato (1), Rubén Real (1), Luis Carlos Rojo (1), Rubén Vicente, Ignacio González (3), Alex Grañeras (2), David Silván (8), Roger Grossi (3) and Ángel Verdugo (1).
Partials every 5 minutes: 1-2, 2-4, 5-6, 9-8, 10-9, 13-10 (halftime) 16-12, 17-14, 19-18, 20-20, 22-21, 26-22 (final)
Referees: José Enrique Iglesias and Carlos Pinto, from the Madrid Committee. Scorer: Alejandro Quintero. Timekeeper: Gonzalo Pérez. Pedro Teixeira (2), Pedro Noda (1) and Felipe Martin (1) were excluded for Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote and Roger Grossi (2) and David Silván (1) for Balonmano Arroyo.
Incidents: Titerroy Municipal Pavilion, about 350 spectators. Match corresponding to the 20th round of Group B of the First State Men's Handball Division.
