Unión Sur Yaiza depends on itself to stay away from the relegation zone. That first premise clashes head-on with what everyone present at the Municipal de Yaiza suffered against Estrella in the second half. But let's start at the beginning, Unión Sur Yaiza (USY) defeated Estrella CF (2-1) in a complicated match to digest corresponding to matchday 25 of Group 12 of the Third Division RFEF.
Although the first minutes of the match were tentative, with hardly any midfield play, it was already becoming clear that Estrella CF, last in the standings and in need of points to avoid being condemned to relegation, was going to put up a fight on Saturday afternoon against a green-and-black squad that was facing the match without its striker, Álex Yunes.
Although the first play with a hint of danger was for the locals in the 11th minute with a ball from Joni, very active in the first half, that crossed Gárate's area without Javi Melián or Yeray Tavío managing to finish. First green warning. But it was going to be Adrián Díaz's team that, after several inaccurate warnings, took advantage of a failure in the locals' ball exit for Dimas to shoot hard and across at an Álex Medina who deflected it for a corner. It was going to be the first of several saves by the green-and-black goalkeeper in the afternoon in Yaiza.
But, embracing the singularity of football, Yaiza's goal arrived, making the stands explode. An arrival by Acorán on the left turned into a low cross into the Estrella's area, Javi Melián left it fertile for Emiliano Trovento, facing the goal, to put it into Gárate's net to make it 1-0 on the scoreboard of the Municipal de Yaiza. The goal spurred on the locals and left Estrella somewhat asleep, as if Mike Tyson had hit them.
Just after scoring the goal, Yaiza sought to take advantage of the situation and a shot from the side clearly collided with the hand of a defender. Clear handball that neither the referee nor his assistant managed to see. It was the first of many confusing actions in a match that was not easy for the refereeing trio given the percentage of life that both teams were playing for in the match.
Unión Sur Yaiza continued to press. Chances for Álvaro and Javi Melián unsuccessfully sought the second local goal. The rest of the first half passed without major news. At halftime, the first changes arrived. Adrián Díaz sought to have Estrella change the inertia of the match and give a more than necessary blow for their future by bringing on Fede Manzi for Felipe.
Yaiza sought Trovento on the right of the attack who, in the 2nd minute, passed to a Javi Melián who shot but ran into the defense. Half a goal that came to nothing. Just at that moment, part of a second half started that seemed to be somewhat out of control of the refereeing trio. In the 5th minute, he whistled offside that had ended in a goal for the visitors.
The match resumed with controversy after the Gran Canaria team had a goal disallowed for offside. The referee's decision did not diminish the visitors' impetus, who tested the local goalkeeper time and time again.
After a header from Melián himself that went over Gárate's crossbar, a chance arrived for Estrella. In the 10th minute, Manu Dimas found a loose ball in Yaiza's area and the shot met a very successful Álex Medina throughout the afternoon.
Estrella added more fuel to the fire, changed Malcom and Juanca came on. Estrella grew and Yaiza only aspired to isolated counterattacks. In the 13th minute, a start by Yeray Tavío was nipped in the bud by the visitors. The cost, a yellow card. But Estrella had already established themselves on the field and a period began in which the rumor grew in the stands with very continuous and dangerous visiting attacks. Yaiza had lost the midfield and their legs were shaking in defense. As a result of the locals' decomposition, a second confusing play arrived in which Estrella scored the equalizer but the referee pretended to disallow it again. After consulting the assistant and in the face of a more than justified protest from the public in the stands, he gave the goal to those from the Sardina del Sur neighborhood. After a shot from Amado, Álex Medina's rebound fell within reach of a Fede Manzi who did not fail with a timely lob.
Far from waking up with the goal, Yaiza seemed to be knocked out. Three minutes later, in the 19th, Estrella tried again with a shot from the edge of the area that went to the right of the green-and-black goalkeeper.
Almost half an hour into the second half, changes arrived in a Yaiza that the fans were clamoring for. Ubay and Pope left their place on the field for Juanca and Roy. A few minutes later, Roy showed his skill. Jaime grabbed him in midfield to prevent his escape and received a yellow card. An oasis in the middle of the desert as Estrella continued to accelerate knowing their delicate situation.
Fede tried again with a close-range shot that Álex Medina managed to deflect. Yaiza seemed broken. Despite the problems in defense, Roy provided some oxygen and in the 32nd minute he shot across that left the ball licking the visitors' crossbar.
In the 34th, the local bench moved again. Senem came on and Álvaro sat down in an attempt to change what he was seeing on the artificial turf of Yaiza. Estrella sat Manu Dimas down and put Pedro on the field. Estrella's dominance continued to grow in unison with the fear of the stands. In the 36th, Fede Manzi had the victory at his feet and could not take advantage of the opportunity. A minute later, with Estrella pouring forward, the referee disallowed another goal for Estrella for offside. The Tirajaneros from the Sardina del Sur neighborhood were desperate.
Yaiza was going to avoid the suffering of the last minutes by scoring in the 40th thanks to Senem. One of the few offensive options of the green-and-blacks in attack in the second half arrived with Trovento passing to Javi Melián who shot from the edge of the area. The shot again met the hands of a defender. The locals were asking for a penalty and the referee again did not see the hands inside the area but the smartest in the class, passing from claiming a penalty, managed to shoot to put Yaiza ahead on the scoreboard. Total madness in the Municipal de Yaiza and a bucket of cold water for the visitors who were also loaded with yellow cards for the protests after the goal.
Yaiza was skilled in killing what was left of the match. An accident left Ubay and Pedro on the ground after their heads collided. With time running out, Estrella brought Arlan onto the field. Unión Sur Yaiza did the same and changed Javi Melián for Nico González and Ubay for Aridani.
There was no time for more. After the final whistle, Estrella did not think more about the future and the protests continued. A direct red card arrived for Fran. The desperation of Estrella was seen in the eyes of the visiting defender. After the results of this matchday, Unión Sur Yaiza remains outside the relegation places with 26 points. In the dangerous places of the table are currently Ibarra with 24 points after winning against Marino (1-3), Gran Tarajal with 19 who fell in Arrecife against Lanzarote (2-0) and Estrella, condemned with 13 points.
Next week Yaiza receives Unión Puerto at the Municipal de Yaiza on Saturday, March 25 from 4:00 p.m. A new opportunity for the green-and-blacks to move away from the dangerous area of the table.
After that, they will have two matches as visitors, against San Fernando and against Marino. Another two as locals, against Tenerife B and the end of the season against Mensajero.
Technical Sheet
Unión Sur Yaiza (2): Álex Medina, Álvaro, Carlos Rosa, Joni, Javi Melián, Emiliano Trovento, Pope, Acorán, Ubay, Grimón and Yeray Tavío. Senem, Nico González, Juanca, Aridani and Roy participated from the bench. Coach: Carlos Ramírez.
Estrella (1): Gárate, Jaime, Fran, Amado, Aníbal, Javi, Malcolm, Manu Dimas, Eleder, Omar Diallo and Felipe. Fede Manzi, Juanca, Pedro and Arlan participated from the bench. Coach: Adrián Díaz
Referee: Christian Sagredo González, assisted on the lines by Adrián Molina García and Blas Díaz Martín. He cautioned Pope and Carlos Rosa for Unión Sur Yaiza. In the ranks of Estrella, Omar Diallo, Jaime, Amado, Gárate, Juanca and the coach, Adrián Díaz. Red card for Fran with the match already over.
Goals: 1-0 (min. 22): Emiliano Trovento. 1-1 (min. 60) Fede Manzi. 2-1 (min. 85) Senem.
Incidents: Match played at the Municipal de Yaiza before about 150 fans belonging to the twenty-fifth matchday of the Third Division RFEF. Before starting the match, in an act framed in the fortieth anniversary of the club, a plaque was presented in tribute to Vicente Tavio, former president of Unión Sur Yaiza.
