End to the cupbearer’s dream of Loyalty. Although Villaviciosa’s men planted a professional team, the lack of success in the areas ended up condemning Christian Pito’s men. Tenerife, with two blows, won the game, but the feeling that the match left behind was very different from what the scoreboard dictated. The Malaysians put against the ropes a team that has just qualified for the last promotion playoff to the First Division, having periods where they completely dominated them. Those from Villaviciosa can be proud of their participation in the Copa del Rey.
Before the kick-off there was a tribute to Marcel Sabou, a former Tenerife player who suffers from ALS and whose son, Mario, is part of the Maliaya discipline. After taking a photo together with both templates with a banner from the “investigala” platform, the ball was once again the protagonist in the Nuevo Ganzábal.
The laggards missed the first goal of the match. Even with people getting into their seats, in minute 3, Andoni López hung a cross from the left wing and Alassan, with great skill, attacked the near post to put the Tenerife team ahead on the scoreboard. Someone was still yawning and the Loyalty was already behind. But, although this could be interpreted as the prelude to a major win, nothing is further from the truth.
Two minutes after conceding the goal, the Malians began to appear in the Tenerife area, although without generating excessive danger to the goal defended by debutant Javier Díaz. Adrián Díaz was the great focus of danger for the locals. In the 22nd minute, the left-back impaled a center that came from the right wing, but his shot went off grazing the chicharrera goal post, causing the applause of the fans displaced to Langreo.
Tenerife’s visit to Asturias was marked by injuries. Halfway through the first half, Andoni López had to leave the field due to a blow to his shoulder, which was later joined by David Rodríguez, who left the pitch limping.
Lealtad kept pressing, but without getting to stand comfortably in the rival area. The defense of three central defenders from Tenerife prevented the locals from charging the area, so they focused their game on attacking down the wings, although when it came to hanging crosses they were very imprecise. The Canarians, for their part, were unable to impose their status as favourites, suffering greatly from the intensity of the duels proposed by Christian Pito’s men.
Going through the changing rooms did not change the intentions of those from Villaviciosa. In the 50th minute, in a great move made by several players, Javier Meana made a mistake when trying to finish off a good cross from Adrián Díaz when he was alone in front of the rival goalkeeper. Christian Pito tried to find a reaction by making a triple substitution, but of those who entered, only Rafa made the difference. Tenerife kept trying to gain control of the ball, but Villaviciosa’s men were very incisive down the left flank, with Marcos Blanco very skilful when it came to looking for the chicharrera back.
Rafa himself was the author of the last great Maliayan occasion. From the moment he entered the field, all the set pieces were looking for his head and in the 67th minute the midfielder was able to show off his great header, but the Tenerife goalkeeper blocked it safely in the face of local desperation.
But all efforts to tie the match ended up taking its toll. Lealtad arrived very short of gasoline at the end of the match and, victim of fatigue, Agus Porto committed a hand when trying to cut off an inoffensive cross from the visitors. Elady Zorrila, after a slight discussion with his teammates, would be in charge of scoring the maximum penalty, easily fooling Javi Porrón.
Despite the defeat, Lealtad can leave the new Ganzábal happy with the image it has shown. Away from his real home, against a rival from the Second Division, conceding a goal in the first moments… Everything seemed against him, but Villaviciosa’s men never lost face in the match.
