Even beating Leganés with 16 minutes left I was thinking it’s not over until the fat lady sings but when the final whistle blew for a 2-1 win the big lass was joined by a human banana, several clowns, superheroes, and blokes in frocks, all belting their lungs out. What a great Carnaval game and a well deserved win built on strong defensive foundations.
Leganés had charged up the table to sit five points behind leaders CD Tenerife and were expected to be a tough test but Tenerife restricted them to few chances especially in the first half when Bruno and late fitness pass Tarantino were superb at the heart of the defence. Cristo Martin miss hit a 9th minute shot to fire wide just after some tenacious tackling by Tarantino had broken up the visitors attack and just before Bruno made a perfect interception on Leganes hot shot Dioni.
Ruiz saw sight of the home goal but put his effort high and wide and Aridane was causing plenty of problems at the other end. Nico came on for Chechu after 25 minutes and Suso had a running battle with Vega who got booked for his clumsy assault on the Tenerife forward. Aridane had his own little friend Victor Gomez who just about managed to keep our man in check.
With the groundwork done Tenerife pressed more in the second half, Suso put an easy chance high and wide and Cristo Martin cut in from the right to put along shot over the goal. Corona made a good tackle to rob goal bound Aridane but Victor Gomez didn´t share his touch and was sent off after fouling Aridane for a penalty. The striker was denied when Falcon dived the right way and saved. A few minutes later Dioni finally got a clean chance after an error by Tarantino and he showed clinical finishing to take the lead.
Tenerife stepped up a gear and Mora fouled Aridane for a free kick on the edge of the box but it came to nothing. Cristo Martin was alert and plundered a crisp shot past Falcon after 70 minutes and the chase was on. Marti replaced Tarantino as Tenerife looked for a winner and from a break down the right Aridane belted in his 14th goal of the season. Guillem should have made it 3-1 with just the goalie to beat but missed the sitter. The four minutes of injury time was agonizing as even goalie Falcon joined the attack but nothing was going to spoil the Carnaval party and the final whistle was met with an almighty roar of delight. Santa Cruz will be rocking tonight.