Saturday's win also saved coach Fernando Vazquez's job as he was tipped to be shown the revolving managerial door at the Son Moix if we'd lost. This game was all about tension, pressure and, most importantly, three golden points. We just had to win, nothing else would have mattered.
The first half was pretty even and pretty poor. Pereira came close for Mallorca before being substituted later on, coming off to a cacophony of boos. Then Tenerife's Choco Lorenzo somehow missed a free header. With our pacey wingers, Salomao and Lago Junior, causing some danger for the visiting defenders, it looked like Mallorca would give a good account of themselves, as a better than normal referee blew for half time, honours even.
Tenerife forced six corners in the first half without really threatening then missed an absolute sitter in the 74th minute. Somehow German headed wide when it looked easier to score. That was a huge let-off for the home side and four minutes later they scored what proved to be the winner. Joan Oriol, who had a great game, put over a brilliant cross and Ortuño glanced his header into the net for his fourth of the season. You could hear the sighs of relief from the 7,000 crowd. Minutes later came heart-in-mouth time for Mallorca fans. Omar saw our goalkeeper Timon standing on the edge of his penalty box and tried an audacious chip from just inside our half, which went over the German stopper's head but luckily the ball stayed out. Just about everybody in the ground thought that one had gone in.
The last five minutes were torture as Tenerife forced three corners and two free kicks on the edge of the area. Somehow we managed to keep a clean sheet as an elated crowd trooped out of the ground on cloud nine. What a relief this win was; all our lot were exhausted in the bar after the game.
SUMMING UP: My headline on Saturday was “Nerve Jangling Time Again” and I was spot on. Ortuño's headed goal (he didn't do a lot else) was a potentially massive moment in our poor season. For long periods Mallorca had a laboured look about them but Vazquez got his changes just right. Brandon Thomas looked sharp, Pol Roige definitely looks one for the future and the almost-forgotten “El Torito” Acuña ran his socks off. Yuste was immense at the heart of the defence and centre half is definitely his best position. Sissoko, although looking leggy towards the end, worked tirelessly in mid-field.
Vazquez was a nervous wreck right up until we scored. When Ortuño's header went in the coach ran onto the pitch and was in the middle of the celebration huddle. The coach hugged every Mallorca player as they came off the pitch at the end. After his well-publicised spat with Ortuño on Tuesday, they looked firm bosom buddies at the end.
No comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Currently there are no comments.