Image: Sergio Betancort
With one matchday remaining until the end of the regular competition, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote maintains mathematical options to qualify for the promotion phase. The team from Lanzarote won on Saturday afternoon against RGC Covadonga, leader of group B of the First National Men's Division, and took advantage of Balonmano Nava's defeat on this matchday. Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote erased Covadonga from the court, a team that at no time demonstrated its status as the leading team in the Titerroy Municipal Pavilion.
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote started the match with a strong 6:0 defense. The first goal of the match was scored by the Lanzarote team, with Covadonga reacting to take the lead on the scoreboard. It would be the only time in the entire match that the Asturian team managed to take the lead. A 4-0 run in favor of Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote gave the Lanzarote team a three-goal advantage.
In the first half of the match, Ciudad de Arrecife made good ball circulation in attack. Pedro Noda from the right wing was having great effectiveness, managing to pierce the Covadonga goal in each attacking action. Later, it was Nelson Espino who gave a recital with the outside shot. And in goal, Sergio Bonilla was impenetrable, making interventions of authentic merit.
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote took control of the scoreboard, achieving advantages of up to seven goals in this first half. Covadonga was surprised by the good game that the Lanzarote team was developing on the court and had no alternatives to turn the situation around. At the conclusion of the first half, the score was 17-10 in favor of Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote. Seven goals difference that speaks clearly of the great difference that there was on the court in the first 30 minutes of the match.
In the second half of the match, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote would demonstrate great concentration. It was necessary to manage the wide advantage they had and also, the news that came from Soria was good. The Lanzarote players knew that Balonmano Nava had been defeated by Balonmano Soria, and that they needed the victory to continue maintaining options in the last matchday.
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote had up to twelve goals advantage in this second half of the match. Luis Morín made a mixed defense on Víctor Álvarez, stopping in attack one of the best players of RGC Covadonga. Despite the excellent defense made by Luis Morín, the Asturian player finished the match as the top scorer of his team. He scored 8 goals, which would be insufficient to achieve the comeback.
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote won by 32 to 24 against RGC Covadonga, defeating the leader of the category and finishing the season undefeated in the Titerroy Municipal Pavilion. No team has been able to take the victory in Lanzarote this season, this being one of the fundamental weapons to maintain a great regularity and be fighting for the promotion phase. The Lanzarote team has only conceded a draw at home against Balonmano Tenerife.
With one matchday remaining until the conclusion of the regular phase of the competition, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote is one point behind Balonmano Nava, team that occupies the second position in the standings. In the last matchday of the competition, Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote travels to Tenerife to face Balonmano Tenerife. The Lanzarote team needs the victory and that Balonmano Nava draws or loses in the last matchday to play the promotion phase.
Technical Sheet
Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote (32): Sergio Bonilla, Ángel Bonilla (1), Pedro Noda (5), Chechu, Javi Ortigosa (7), Rubén Villa, Luis Morín (3), Nelson Espino (7), Pedro Teixeira (2), Rubén Caraballo (4), Filipe Martins (3), Ruymán López (3), Antonio Duque and Jesús Rodríguez
RGC Covadonga (24): Daniel García, Pablo González (2), Luis Manuel Suárez (2), Alexis Fernández (4), Víctor Álvarez (8), Sergio Rozada, Fernando López (4), Alejandro Fidalgo, Álvaro Magdaleno (2), Carlos Manuel Rodríguez (1), Raúl Vallejo (1) and Juan López (1)
Partial scores every 5 minutes: 1-1, 5-2, 9-4, 12-6, 15-8, 17-10 (break) 19-11, 22-12, 25-16, 27-19, 28-21 and 32-24 (final)
Referees: José Luis Sanz and Víctor Varcacel, from the Madrid Committee. Excluded Ángel Bonilla (1), Luis Morín (1) and Nelson Espino (1) for Ciudad de Arrecife Chacón Lanzarote and Alexis Fernández (1) and Víctor Álvarez (1) for RGC Covadonga
Incidents: Titerroy Municipal Pavilion, about 250 spectators. Match corresponding to the 25th matchday of group B of the First National Men's Handball Division. The proceeds from the ticket office were donated to the family of the child Ismael, who needs a walker to regain mobility.
