On Sunday midday, UD Lanzarote secured their presence in the promotion phase to the Second Division "B" after a goalless draw against UD Cruz Santa. The reds let two important points slip away at the Ciudad Deportiva, failing to overcome Cruz Santa's defensive structure throughout the 90 minutes of play. The reds barely created clear chances of danger and became increasingly desperate as the minutes passed. An bittersweet qualification for UD Lanzarote, seeing how the possibility of winning the champion title slips away.
From the start of the match, UD Lanzarote took control of the game and quickly created the first dangerous chances on the UD Cruz Santa goal. In the 4th minute, a corner kick generated several rebounds inside the area, with Javi Betancort ultimately shooting and sending the ball over the crossbar. Just two minutes later, Ayoze made an opening for Rosmen's penetration on the right, and his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Javi low down.
UD Cruz Santa generated danger from a set piece in the 11th minute. Ruymán was in charge of executing a free kick from the edge of the area, goalkeeper Agoney stretched out and sent the ball out for a corner. The players of the Tenerife team were very intense on the field, exerting an asphyxiating pressure that did not allow the local players to be comfortable.
The greatest danger from UD Lanzarote in this first half came in the actions down the wing. In the 31st minute, Mauri broke down the left wing and his shot was stopped with difficulty by goalkeeper Javi. And in the 41st minute, it was Miguel Gómez who broke down the left wing, with the post of the goal repelling the shot of the rojillo full-back.
The spirits heated up in the final minutes of the first half, with several scuffles on the field that the referee had to cut short with yellow cards. The UD Lanzarote players took the bait in all the "wars" that were on the field, which prevented the game from having rhythm in the final stretch of the first half. The first 45 minutes came to an end with a goalless draw.
UD Lanzarote's dominance was accentuated in the second half of the match, being the only team that wanted to have the ball in their possession, against a Cruz Santa that wasted time in each of the actions. It was the Tenerife team that created the first attacking action of the second half, with a header from Dani Padilla that was lost over the crossbar of the UD Lanzarote goal.
UD Lanzarote's response came in the 61st minute. Miguel Gómez broke down the right wing, put the pass back for the arrival of Fran Gil and the defender's shot went over the crossbar. Minutes later, goalkeeper Javi made a poor clearance, the ball hit his teammate Dario and the ball was about to sneak into the Cruz Santa goal.
UD Cruz Santa accumulated many players in their area of the field, and UD Lanzarote played the final minutes of the match with a defense of three players. The Tenerife team defended and even dared to mount quick counterattacks. Oscar in the 82nd minute was not successful in the shot and Agoney stopped the toe-poke shot low down.
The referee added seven minutes to the second half as a result of the excessive time wasting by the Cruz Santa players. Minutes in which Lanzarote hung balls in the edge of the area and could not generate danger. There was also time for controversy, when Rosmen fell inside the area when he was trying to break through on the left side, and the referee showed him the yellow card for understanding that he was feigning the maximum penalty. Before this action, Javi Melián was grabbed by a defender and the action was not punished by the referee of the match either.
Goalless draw starring UD Lanzarote and UD Cruz Santa, a point that allows UD Lanzarote to qualify mathematically for the promotion phase to the Second Division B. The reds lose an opportunity to assault the second place and see how the Villa de Santa Brígida, team that currently occupies the leadership of the Third Division, moves away.
Technical Sheet
UD Lanzarote (0): Agoney, Raúl, Miguel Gómez (Echedey 87), Fran Gil (Kennedy 74), Acai, Javi Betancort, Ayoze (Javi Melián 38), Vladimir, Rosmen, Mauri and Toñito. Coach: Adolfo Pérez
UD Cruz Santa (0): Javi, Tato, Davor, Ruymán, Tana, Pedro (Oscar 79), Dario, José Alexis, Dani Padilla, José Carlos (Eric 46) and Enma (Marcos 76). Coach: Carlos Alexis González
Referee: Rayco Marrero García, assisted on the wings by Rafael Yantorno and Blas Díaz. He cautioned Miguel Gómez, Vladimir, Rosmen and Toñito for UD Lanzarote and Tato, Pedro, José Alexis and the coach, Carlos Alexis González, for UD Cruz Santa
Incidents: Ciudad Deportiva Lanzarote, about 350 spectators. Match corresponding to the 35th day of the Canarian group of the Third Division. Pedro, player of UD Cruz Santa, had to be transferred to a medical center after suffering a blow to the shoulder.
