Painfully close to a home win over a classy Villareal side, CD Tenerife were unlucky to only draw 2-2 after a storming second half display. A defeat for Zaragoza and a draw for Valladolid means that Tenerife are now within 2 points of that fourth from bottom safety spot.

Villareal showed their quality in the first half, fast, well organised and sharp in attack, they were a real handfull. Nino had the forst chance of the game for CDT but Fuster soon tested Segio Aragonoses in the home goal. Nino seemed to be playing too deep at times and it kept Tenerife’s chances down to a minimum. Ibagaza had the clearest chance of the half, his crisp shot was well saved by Sergio, back to his usual top form after last Saturdays wobbles.

As half time approached a goalless stalemate would have been very welcome but Juanlu made a stupid foul and from Ibagaza’s free kick the Braxilian striker headed Villareal into the lead. Tenerife reacted positively and came out for the second hald with all guns blazing. Ayoze, having another productive game, charged down the left and swung a cross in for Nino to level the scores after 60 minutes. From the resulting kick off Villareal broke but were stopped by Sergio making a decisive clean take of the ball.

Nino got into a good position on the right of the box and shot wide as Ayoze came racing in on the other side with a clear sight on goal. Alfaro missed a couple of decent chances, especially when he was through on goal and shot straight at the visiting keeper. Capdevilla nearly scored an own goal but was rescued by keeper Lopez, he made himself even more unpopular when his poor clearance ended up at the feet of Culebras who whacked it in the goal for a Tenerife lead.

Tenerife were the better side in the second half and deserved the victory but Villreal’s Rossi grabbed his chance, picking up the ball some 30 yards out and running for goal, he gave Culebras the slip and curled a fine shot into the net to deny Tenerife as the final minutes ticked away. There was another blow as Ayoze was stretchered off late in the game, hopefully he will be back soon to continue his great form. Â A cruel end to a gutsy display from CD Tenerife but encouraging for the trip to Malaga on Saturday.