Mixing the completion of ten transfer window arrivals with an injury crisis, CD Tenerife had to show character, attitude, and aggression to clinch a 1-0 home win over Real Racing Club de Santander.

The 54th minute decider showed off those qualities as Sipcic, a late centre back replacement for Jose Leon powered a long ball upfield for Waldo to speed down the right and deliver a tight low cross for Borja Garces to slam past the keeper. Borja (a loanee from Atletico Madrid) had missed several first half chances and an advertising board felt the force of his frustrated boot as he celebrated.

Racing, rock bottom after three games, looked poor bordering on pathetic, but it was stalemate at the break as the unfamiliar home line up got to know each other. Gallego had netted after 38 minutes but a VAR offside call wiped it out. Alexandre Corredera played through the pain barrier in midfield and as Tenerife knitted together, the coach added rising youth forward Teto and the last of the loan signings Arvin Appiah for Mo Dauda and Waldo after 65 minutes.

The young gun Teto relished another run out, and Appiah looked strong and full of skills down the right. The Nottingham Forest developed England under 20 player was eager to please after parent club Almeria signed him for 8.8 million euros and then starved him of first team action. Five minutes of added time tested the nerves of the 11,804 Santa Cruz crowd, especially when German floored Teto with a wild crunching tackle.

Early season doubts were swept aside as in favour of hope and expectancy. Two more local lads, Ibra and David got late minutes and can look forward to more chances. There´s a lot of potential in the squad, given a hasty clear up of the injuries, a bright path beckons.