The second promotion playoff to the Second Division "B" has become very difficult for UD Lanzarote. The Rojillos lost on Sunday afternoon against UD Almansa, in a match in which the Almansa team deserved a greater lead. Quico de Diego's team only showed their face during the first 25 minutes of the match and collapsed after Almansa's goal. Once again, they demonstrated that their game drops a lot in the matches they play away from home.
The match began with Almansa dominating, a team that made their home advantage count. As the minutes passed, UD Lanzarote shook off the dominance of the Azulones and even took control of the game. The first warning was given by Ayoze after 9 minutes, with a ball that won him the back of the local defense, although the action was invalidated for offside.
Minutes later, it was Rosmen who tried his luck with a hard shot from the edge of the area, and Imanol responded with a good save, preventing the ball from sneaking between the three posts. Jonathan Torres barely missed the rebound. The Rojillos' dominance was accentuated as the minutes passed, and Almansa did not look comfortable on the pitch.
The locals would take the lead in a stroke of luck. It was the 24th minute when Rubén Jurado entered down the right wing, put a pass into the area and Acai, in an attempt to clear the ball, ended up lodging the ball in the back of the net. A goal that was a bucket of cold water for the UD Lanzarote players.
After the goal, UD Lanzarote disappeared from the pitch and for many minutes the team was blurred on the pitch. Almansa could have increased the differences on the scoreboard. Santi won the game in speed against Eliot down the left wing, entered the area and his shot went licking the base of the post of the goal defended by Ruymán.
The first half of the match concluded with a new attack play by Almansa. After an entry down the left wing by Churre, he took out a cross that was headed by Meca and the ball ended up crashing into the crossbar of the goal. With 1-0, the first 45 minutes came to an end.
UD Lanzarote did not improve at the start of the second half. After a timid initial dominance by the Rojillos, little by little Almansa took over the weight of the match again. Quico de Diego looked for solutions on the bench, bringing Toñito and Sixto onto the pitch and taking off Jonathan Torres and Javi Betancort.
UD Lanzarote's bellows went out as the minutes passed, and again Almansa took control of the game. The locals increased the differences on the scoreboard in the 24th minute of the second half. Rubén Jurado received a ball inside the area, with a cut he got rid of the defenders who were pressing him and with a shot glued to the post he made the second goal for his team.
UD Lanzarote did not react and Almansa ate the Rojillos in the minutes that remained until the end of the match. Despite trying in the final minutes, the Lanzarote team lacked ideas in the final meters and were not able to endanger Imanol's goal.
Almansa could even have achieved a more comfortable score. The best chance for the Almansa team was starred by Abellán on the right side, he entered the area and his shot was stopped by Ruymán. Lanzarote had a double chance with a free kick from the edge of the area, but both shots ended up crashing into the barrier.
The agony of UD Lanzarote ended with the referee's final whistle. With 2-0, the match came to an end. A result that leaves the tie very difficult for the interests of UD Lanzarote. The return leg will be next Sunday, June 12, starting at 11 a.m. at the Ciudad Deportiva Lanzarote.
Technical Sheet
UD Almansa: Imanol, Septien, Castellanos, Pablo, José Carlos, Iñaqui, Rubén Jurado, Santi, Alex (Rangel 76), Churre (Gaviro 65), Meca (Abellán 73)
UD Lanzarote: Ruymán, Eliot, Saúl (Yaco 75), Acai, Josu Esnaola, Javi Betancort (Sixto 65), Jotha, Rubén Rodríguez, Ayoze, Rosmen and Jonathan Torres (Toñito 65)
Goals:
1-0: minute 24, Acai own goal
2-0: minute 69, Rubén Jurado
Referee: Villoria Linacero, assisted on the wings by Lamchacht Laamarti and Olías García from the Madrid school. He cautioned Iñaqui, Rubén Jurado, Santi and Abellán for UD Almansa and Jotha for UD Lanzarote
Incidents: Almansa Municipal Sports Center, about 1700 spectators. First leg of the second promotion playoff to the Second Division "B".