Not a weak link in sight, CD Tenerife turned on one of their finest squad performances as they swept Atletico Madrid B aside with a 4-0 pounding. While I am giving out plaudits, full marks to coach Alvaro Cervera for his tactics, The more experienced Tarantino was returned to the centre of defence and Suso was included in the starting 11 ahead of Chechu, the rewards were immediate.
In their first attack Suso opened up Atletico and served the ball up to Luismi Loro for a first minute opener. Stunned fans barely had time to praise their heroes before Aridane got in on the act to bang in his seventh strike of the season. The stadium was buzzing, Madrid had arrived as a team in form and Oliver Torres was supposed to be the best thing since free Dorada but Tenerife made sure his admiring scouts (and any Girl Guides) had a wasted trip.
Even in such irresistible form it would have been greedy to hope for more early goals but glory starved chicharreros never refuse another helping of classy football. Suso is like a fox in the chicken coop and as he worked his way into the box he was brought down and Loro gleefully converted the penalty, 3-0 and only 18 minutes on the clock.
There were signs that Atletico could be a useful side but Tenerife squeezed them and kept their chances to a bare minimum, Medina again played the holding role to perfection and Cristo Martin was always ready to prompt another attack. This wasn’t just about pretty football, there was plenty of good old fashioned hard work and players supporting each other.
Into the second half and Suso was relishing his running battle with defender Elbis, he won a corner that Loro just failed to convert. Cervera took the opportunity to give fringe players a run out, Josmar Zambrano got a big cheer when he came on for Loro and he was soon showing his cheeky skills running in from the left. Cristo Martin was fouled just outside the box and was unlucky to see his free kick go over the bar. Abel came on for Medina and Guillem Marti for Aridane and the play continued to flow.
Marti showed more hunger this week and he and Martin both went close to adding another goal. Marti had a strong run at goal in the final minute and was only stopped by a Saul foul, a second booking meant an early finish for the defender and as the ref pointed to the spot Marti placed the ball wide of the keeper to open his Tenerife goal account. It was nothing more than was deserved, the 8,471 crowd were lapping it up, this will send out a strong message to the other teams jostling for play off positions, Tenerife are determined to hold on to the leaders spot.