The crusty juggler tapping up motorists outside our pre match bar can’t even begin to know how CD Tenerife coach Alvaro Cervera feels. Under pressure and under siege he has been juggling injuries, suspensions, and poor players as his Christmas card list shrinks by the day. Midfield star Vitolo was his salvation this week topping a fine individual display with a penalty for a 1-0 home win over Racing Santander.
The January transfer window pit stop is just two more games away so it’s all about wringing out as many points as possible before then, three points and a clean sheet fitted the bill nicely. Suso was again the inspiring leader with penetrating runs down the right and enough enthusiasm to cover up for those with less to offer. Racing had plenty of the early play and clipped the bar with a looping shot, the home defence did their jobs well, Hugo Alvarez is growing in stature each game and the full backs Camara and Moyano put some recent slip ups behind them to lock down the flanks.
Aridane had his reprieve from last weeks sending off and cruised through the game in second gear as always. It should have been Uli Davila’s time to shine before Diego Ifran returns from suspension but he couldn’t light up a phone box. If you wanted to scrap the loan system you would use Uli as your main reason, he moves from club to club wallowing in his comfort zone, there is a rude awakening for him when Chelsea cut his golden apron strings. A shot across the Racing goal and a point blank save from Mario kept the half time score at 0-0.
The second half showed an improvement from Tenerife, Aridane put a ball through to Suso and his attack on goal was stopped abruptly by Saul for a penalty within 10 minutes of the restart. Vitolo was having a sparkling game in midfield and stroked the spot kick home for the lead before racing over to embrace Cervera on the bench. Aitor Sanz returned from injury for the ineffective Rivero, he has been sorely missed. Carlos didn’t have too much to do in the home goal but looked comfortable and made an important low diving save with Racing threatening.
Uli departed after 79 minutes as Maxi arrived, strangely he slotted in on the right with Suso, it took five awkward minutes for him to be moved to the left where he looks more at home. Suso nearly made it 2-0 but was foiled by a good stop from Mario but there was more to endure before the win was safe. Guarrotxena was a last minute sub and was picked out for a run on goal, a defender clearly fouled him to take the ball and prompt a Racing breakaway that ended with the ball in the Tenerife net. At least the ref spotted the clear offside and ruled it out to the relief of the 8,379 crowd.