When people gather to chill each others blood with tales of horror and carnage, this game will be talked about in hushed tones. How awful was this display, well Real Zaragoza were in a mess on and off the pitch but Tenerife made them look good.
Take a bow Carlos Ruiz, the central defender had a mare and was involved in all the goals as the home side won 3-0. The first came after 48 minutes, Ruiz gave away a free kick with both knees in an opponents chest – just after the Cabildo advert against violence and for fair play had appeared on the TV coverage. The defending wall jumped but Victor’s shot sailed over them and gave Sergio Aragoneses no chance in goal. Then after 62 minutes Ruiz got his boot to a shot from Mantanas but it just helped it into the net. The final nail in the Tenerife coffin came within three minutes as Victor skipped by Ruiz who didn’t offer a tackle – oh the shame, the shame.
Good points were hard to find, Aridane was a passenger but the service to him was poor, Inigo Ros wasn’t even on the bench – I assume he got a reaction to his mid week run out, the midfield is like a dessert without him. The first half offered up a good few chances for Tenerife, Aridane had a header deflected away, Aday Benitez powered through and unleashed a strong shot that wasn’t far off the mark, and home goalie Del Franco was dead lucky to see a Suso shot bounce away off his shoulder after he totally miss judged it.
Then the second half arrived and the wheels really fell off, the first goal rejuvenated Zaragoza and they showed a killer instinct that Tenerife are lacking this season. Even a double sub just before the second goal didn’t gee up Tenerife, Rivero and Rigo replaced Suso and Loro but nothing changed. Victor could have completed his hat trick if Sergio hadn’t tipped over his 75th minute shot and saved at his feet as the game ebbed away. Let’s not hit the panic button yet, two home games on the trot can put us back on track but will they?