Photos: Sergio Betancort
UD Lanzarote returned to the path of victory after a first month of the year marked by draws and a tough defeat. The "rojillos" added three points precisely against a direct rival from whom they intended to distance themselves before starting three upcoming high-stakes matches: Ciudad Lorquí, Cartagena and "Uni", the latter mired in a complicated crisis of results and play.
UD Lanzarote won by the minimum against UD Las Palmas Atco. in a hard-fought match played on a rainy Sunday morning. The subsidiary never let its guard down and made things very difficult for the locals throughout the match. Despite starting well positioned on the field, the yellows soon conceded a goal, as in the 17th minute Vladimir stretched his leg in the area to reach a cross from Maciot and score the 1-0.
Perhaps the best play was executed in this first half, a period where both contenders showed verticality. Striker Rojas was about to equalize in the 25th minute, but a local defender deflected the ball to a corner at the last moment. These were the minutes of greatest visitor insistence.
The team coached by Carmelo Hernández had no excessive problems in going to the locker room with the minimum victory, and even, if Jonathan had had greater aim, in the 34th, and Vladimir, in the 41st minute, the income at halftime could have been greater.
Little play and expulsions
The second half made clear the objectives of both teams in the category, permanence. In this period, UD Las Palmas caused little concern, with few attacking arguments and no drive against an orderly local defense. Only Ibán, who crashed a ball into the post at the start, and Vitoloremató at Miguel's feet in the 90th minute, disturbed the possibility of victory for UD Lanzarote.
The expulsions of Óscar Martín and Ibán occurred in just five minutes, due to double warnings. Thus, both teams played with ten players for the last minutes of the match. More spaces, yes, but UD Lanzarote knew how to narrow the field and avoid surprises on the wings.
The fine rain accompanied the players during the final minutes, moments of great slowing down of the game by the local players, who let the minutes pass without scares until obtaining a hard-fought victory.
UD Lanzarote plays next Sunday against Ciudad Lorquí, a rival from the top of the table. The team continues to move away from the direct relegation places; it is 10 away.
Technical sheet:
- UD LANZAROTE: Miguel, Ángel, Rubén, Adrián, Francis, Oswaldo, Jhota, Vladimir, Maciot (Ayoze, 84), Óscar and Jonathan (Noé, 89).
- UD LAS PALMAS ATCO: Alberto, Daylos, Aythami, Ibán, Juan Pedro, Amado (Humberto, 54), Romario, Armiche (Randi, 63), Raúl Barcos (Toni, 56), Vitolo and Rojas.
GOALS: 1-0 (min 17) VLADIMIR finishes off a free kick executed by Maciot from close range.
Referee: The Aragonese referee Luis Miguel Vallejo Aznar sent off the local Óscar Martín (min 72) and the yellow subsidiary defender Ibán (min 77) for the same reason with a double card. He also showed cards to Francis and Jhota, among the locals, and to Romario and Aythami, in UD Las Palmas.
Incidents: About 600 spectators attended the Sports City on this 23rd day of Group II of Segunda B, on a morning where it rained slightly in the final stretch of the match. A minute of silence was observed in honor of the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Pablo Porta, who passed away this week.
