Bring on the leaders - 17.10.2008

Albacete 0 CD Tenerife 1

IT wasn’t pretty but it is certainly big and clever. Sunday’s win was CDT’s second of the season away from the archipelago and has got the fans dreaming again.

 

This victory was a celebration of firsts. Tenerife’s first clean sheet of the season. Cristo’s first League goal since Noah started chopping down trees. 

 

It’s amazing. You wait 18 months for the club captain to notch, and then he gets two in three days!

 

 It was a superb victory for Tenerife. Any fears that the players would suffer a hangover from their Copa Del Ray penalty defeat by Elche was swiftly dismissed.

 

Albacete are no world-beaters, but their home form is solid and only the good sides leave with all three points.

 

 In truth, it wasn’t the prettiest game you will see. Once again, Tenerife coach Jose Oltra went with Martinez and Luna at centre-back and with Cendros making his debut at right-back, it worked. Albacete’s forward line got little joy out of a mean CDT defence.

 

 Tenerife bossed the first half. Richi spurned two early chances and Alfaro was unlucky not to score from a free-kick. Tenerife never gave their hosts a chance and got their reward 15 minutes from time.

 

Cristo has often been a mini-supersub for Tenerife and the likeable skipper again stole the show. A Cendros cross fell to Cristo at the back post and his shot somehow squirmed past keeper Jonathan, who should have done better.

 

 The three points keep Tenerife in third place, and a win this Saturday would make it their best start to a season this Millennium.

 

But the visitors to the Heliodoro are leaders Salamanca, coached by Arico-born, ex-CDT boss David Amaral! Just to add a bit more spice to the occasion.

 

 

Salamanca have steadily improved over the last few seasons, and since Amaral picked up the reigns in July, they have flown. They are one of Arsenal’s feeder clubs and young Brazilian striker Pedro Silva Botelho, earmarked for big things, is in his second loan season with the club.

Their signings have started well and they are led at the back by former Ipswich defender Sito Castro, while the main goal threat comes from Quique Martin.

 

 The veteran striker, in his third spell at the club, is showing no signs of slowing down. The 35-year-old bagged a brace against Eibar last weekend and in a press conference this week said his confidence was sky-high:

 

“I am very happy,” he added. “The squad’s work is excellent and that is more important than my individual display. I feel we have a side capable of scoring lots of goals. Miku has not yet scored, but I am sure that he will get a handful of goals soon.

 

My goal for the season is promotion, although when you think of our budget, we have no right to go up! But I have a promotion dream. It will be hard, but we will try our best because the city deserves to return to the First Division.”

 

 His partner in attack is young Venezuelan Miku, on loan from Valencia after a similar deal at Nastic last season. But there are goals all over the pitch. Midfielder Salvo has a Steven Gerrard eye for goal while Isaac gets his fair share as well.

 

 Despite the goal threat, it’s their defence who have sent them top. They have conceded only four goals, but that will be put to the test by CDT’s sharp-shooters, who top the scoring charts.

It’s a great match-up and something has to give tomorrow (Saturday). Of course, Tenerife have the juicy carrot of going top with a win, and the added bonus of putting one over former boss Amaral, who celebrates his 50th birthday this week.

 

Amaral, incidentally, was mentioned as a possible successor to Oltra only a fortnight ago.

 

 Tenerife will have an almost full-strength squad to choose from. Cristo should be fit for the bench after shaking off the knee injury he picked up on Sunday. Ayose played the last 15 minutes against Albacete and should see some action, while CDT welcome back Kome from international duty and Marc Betran from suspension.

 

 It gives Jose Luis Oltra some nice problems. Does he go with Kome, Alfaro, Juanlu or Ayose on the left side of midfield? Does he keep faith with Iriome on the other flank, and will he be brave enough to give Nino a strike partner?

 

Will Ricardo return to centre-midfield or should he stick with Perez and Richi, a combination which worked last weekend?

 

 One final thought ahead of the 5.30pm kick-off. The referee will be Javier Fernandez who in his first three games of the season  managed to book 25 players!

 

The Catalan showed his yellow card ten times on his last visit to the Canaries, when he took charge of Las Palmas vs Elche in August.