UD Lanzarote showed one of its worst sides on the ninth day in a first half lacking rhythm against an orderly and conservative team like UD Villa de Santa Brígida. The team from Gran Canaria took an early lead through a goal scored by Adrián when the first quarter of the match was being played. From then on, the locals struggled against their poor play, against the visitors' defensive network and against the expulsions they suffered during the match. The epilogue was provided by Víctor Ramos in the 90th minute, achieving an equaliser that few expected.
Villa's goal served to further cement the good positioning of the team from Gran Canaria on the pitch. Juan Manuel Rodríguez's pupils seemed comfortable on a pitch where UD Lanzarote never knew how to apply intensity and rhythm to their actions. Despite attempts to link up plays, the locals fell time and again to crosses into the centre, something the green-and-white centre-backs easily resolved. Only a shot from Nacho in the dying minutes of the first 45 minutes caused Javi Ortega some concern.
The second half started with a "rojilla" squad with one player less as Nene was sent off at half-time after addressing the referee in a derogatory manner. This setback added to the local thickness and forced coach Paco Gutiérrez to take new risks.
The period began with a double local chance, but Nacho and Yeray Ortega's shots were exceptionally saved by goalkeeper Javi Orttega. In this second period things became even more complicated for the Lanzarote team as Óscar Martín was sent off in the 74th minute, leaving the conejero team with nine players in play. While UD Villa de Santa Brígida missed clear goalscoring opportunities on the counter-attack through Dudi and Pablo Álvarez, the "rojillos" pulled out all the stops to exploit the wing and pump balls in search of an equaliser. An equaliser that finally arrived in the 90th minute, when Víctor Ramos headed in a cross from Yeray into the area with his back to goal.
With the delirium of the crowd, a blocked match for the locals came to an end, who showed a somewhat slow and tiresome game in the first half, but made amends with determination in the second half. For its part, Villa let slip what would have been its first away win at the Ciudad Deportiva.
At the moment UD Lanzarote is fourth in Group I with 18 points and will play a new Canarian derby this week against San Isidro.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET:
- UD Lanzarote: Alberto, Javi Jiménez, Koke (Oscar Martín, 60´), Juanma, Dani Mayo (Gómez, 46´), Adrián, Nene, Brenes, Nacho Rodríguez (Víctor Ramos, 72´), Yeray Ortega and Aníbal Zurdo.
- UD Villa de Santa Brígida: Javi Ortega, Carreño, Josué, Alex, Ruimán, Ángel, Orlando (Roseen, 54´), Gustavo (Toni Robayna, 55´), Dudi, Jero and Leroy (Pablo Álvarez 87´).
Goals: 0-1 (min. 15); RUIMÁN heads in a free kick taken by Álex. 1-1 (min. 90) VÍCTOR RAMOS heads in a cross from Yeray Ortega with his back to goal.
Referee: The Andalusian referee Figueroa Vázquez sent off Nene with a straight red card at half-time; also sending off the team's kit man, Agustín Hernández, the physical trainer, Maikel Santana, and the "rojillo" player Óscar Martín (min.74) in the second half. He showed yellow cards to Javi Jiménez, Dani Mayo and Aníbal Zurdo, in the local team, and to Carreño, Josué, Alex, Gustavo, Leroy, Rosmen and Pablo Álvarez in UD Villa Santa Brígida.
Incidents: Match of the ninth league matchday in group I played in the Ciudad Deportiva Lanzarote in front of some 600 spectators during a . warm morning.
