Was it the Grand National course churned up by galloping hooves or a farmers field ploughed and ready for turnips? No, it was a very heavy pitch at Marino Luanco and CD Tenerife showed plenty of character to grind out a 1-1 draw, it certainly was never going to be a repeat of the 4-0 home win (below) earlier in the season.
It’s not always about silky skills, sometimes good old grit and determination are needed and in Carlos Portero Tenerife found the perfect player to inspire them. The midfielder signed in the January transfer window was playing only his third game in his new colours and his call up on the right was due to an injury doubt over Suso. Chechu took charge of the other flank and in between avoiding pot holes and divots had a steady game, his well flighted free kick after 17 minutes needed a high catch from the home goalie.
Carlos set about his task with relish and could have got a penalty after cutting in from the right before getting bowled over in the box – maybe he fell a little theatrically for the referees liking. A Chechu corner from the other side found Alberto’s head but the ball went over the bar. Mid table Luanco had their moments, Inigo Ros made a well timed strong tackle to clear the danger from Moises on the half hour. A few minutes later the home side went ahead, a neat chip took out Bruno and Tarantino and landed spot on for Chus to score.
The second half opened with a major scare as Chus beat Bruno, thankfully his defensive partners scrambled the ball away. As rain began to fall Moyano set Carlos away on the right and he forced his way past his marker to set the ball up for Aridane to claim his 19th goal of the season. Sergio had a butter fingers moment when failing to hold a high shot but Alberto was on hand to mop up. The Tenerife keeper made amends a couple of minutes later when the ball emerged too easily from a scrum of defenders, Sergio turned the resulting shot aside at the far post.
Carlos was creative again when he fed a ball through to Ayoze but the young forward didn’t put the ball far enough past the keepers diving hands. Chus had a free header over Bruno but there was Sergio with another good stop, he followed that up with an equally good save from an unsighted curling free kick. Guillem came on for Carlos as Tenerife looked for a winner in the last ten minutes, Chechu dug out a loose ball and passed up field to the chasing Guillem and Ayoze but it evaded them. After last weeks game criticism focused on the right side of the Tenerife defence, Moyano added fuel to that fire when he lost the ball high up the pitch, Sergio charged out of his area to spare his friends blushes.
In the end the draw was a fine result and with Leganes losing it puts Tenerife six points clear with just six regular games left. Sporting B at home next week wont be a pushover and we will miss the suspended Inigo Ros (above) but it’s a hurdle that these Tenerife thoroughbreds should be able to leap.