CD Tenerife defeats UD Las Palmas in the first Canarian derby of the preseason
The CD Tenerife defeated UD Las Palmas by the minimum in the first Canarian derby of the preseason, with an unusual tension in friendly matches and a massive altercation that forced the referee to stop the game for several minutes.
CD Tenerife: Dani Hernández; Javi Moyano, Carlos Ruiz, Germán Sánchez, Raúl Cámara; Vitolo, Aitor Sanz, Abel Suárez; Omar Perdomo, Nano and Pedro Martín. Also played: Alberto Jiménez, Nadjib, Cristo González, Suso Santana
UD Las Palmas: Raúl Lizoain; Pedro Bigas, Jesús, Aythami, Dani Castellano; Javi Castellano, Ofir Kriaf, Roque Mesa, Culio; Jonathan Viera and Sergio Araujo. Also played: Javi Varas, David Simón, Christian Fernández, David García, Nauzet Alemán, Asdrúbal, Momo, Hernán, Héctor Figueroa and Valerón.
Goal: 1-0; minute 88: Nadjib.
Referee: Carlos Franco Galván, from the Tenerife Territorial Committee. Vitolo was cautioned for Tenerife; Aythami Artiles was cautioned for Las Palmas.
Incidents: Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, with 4,325 spectators according to the club. First leg of the IV Mahou Cup.
The team made the most of the two extra weeks of preparation they had compared to Las Palmas, although they couldn't score the winning goal until the final moments, after a personal play by youth player Nadjib.
Raúl Agné used the match as a general rehearsal, with a team similar to the one that will likely play in the first round of the league, while Paco Herrera used a different team in each half.
The Las Palmas team tried to control the ball and take control of the game, but lacked depth and speed in the decisive areas, while the white and blue team once again relied on a more direct style of play.
The best player for Paco Herrera's team was Israeli midfielder Ofir Kriaf, who tried several times, without luck, to surprise Dani Hernández.
In CD Tenerife, the speed and quality of Malaga-born Pedro Martín stood out, who put the visiting defenders in trouble on several occasions, but lacked clarity when finishing the play.
In the absence of football and goals, the most notable moment of the first half was a massive altercation that arose after a dispute between Javi Moyano and Culio, in which players from both teams exchanged some blows.
With these incidents, which caused the game to be stopped for several minutes until the situation calmed down, the players made it clear that there were unresolved issues between them, following the controversial brawl that took place in the tunnel of the Gran Canaria stadium after the last competitive derby.
In the second half, Paco Herrera made nine changes to his players, while Raúl Agné kept the same lineup for fifteen more minutes. This led to the first clear goal-scoring opportunities.
Nano wasted a one-on-one chance for the white and blue team and Las Palmas' Momo came close to scoring from a direct free kick, although the clearest opportunity came from Pedro Martín, who failed to convert a great pass from Aitor Sanz into a goal.
When a scoreless draw seemed to be the final result, youth player Nadjib found himself alone in front of Javi Varas. His first shot hit the post, but he managed to get the rebound and, on the second attempt, gave the victory to the white and blue team.