Super Sevilla show sets up Promotion Sunday! - 05.06.2009

Sevilla At 0 CD Tenerife 4

DESPITE missing a couple of key players, Tenerife were expected to come away from the South of Spain with three points.

 

 

As it turned out, they came back with a lot more: a bloodless win, a clean sheet and a real feeling that their moment had arrived.

 

 

A 4-0 win against the bottom side was great. Three points, magnificent. But it was the way they swatted aside their hosts which really got the juices flowing.

 

 

Three goals up at half-time after strikes from Alfaro, Kome and Nino, they strolled around in the second period and could have added as many as they liked.

 

 

They settled for Nino’s fourth penalty of the season after tickling the woodwork on a couple of occasions.

 

 

Tenerife’s victory, combined with Zaragoza’s third consecutive 3-0 win, this time over Albacete, really piled the pressure on fourth-place Hercules.

 

 

Since beating Tenerife a few weeks back, they have struggled to keep up in the race for promotion. Their draw with Huesca was followed by Sunday’s 2-2 home draw with relegation-threatened Celta Vigo.

 

 

The visitors more than matched their hosts and Celta were a little unlucky to go in 2-2 at half-time. They had numerous chances to seal the win, but in the 95th minute Hercules were given a dodgy penalty.

 

 

The spot-kick was certainly going to be the last action of the game and up stepped Farinos, who had already notched a first-half penalty.

 

 

The former Spanish international smacked his shot against the post and a massive 17,000 crowd were stunned into silence. The ref’s whistle seconds later sent Xerez up and left Tenerife on the brink of La Liga.

 

 

CDT will be promoted on Sunday if they win and Hercules fail to do likewise in their derby match with Alicante on Saturday afternoon.

 

 

It’s as simple as that. Well, apart from the fact the opponents for Tenerife are Xerez! It’s a mega match and the biggest in the Canaries this decade.

 

 

The stadium sold out in just four hours, which is a record, beating the mark set a few weeks ago for the derby with Las Palmas.

 

 

The whole island is buzzing ahead of this match. While Tenerife will be concentrating only on winning and securing promotion, there is another carrot: They will go top if they win by two clear goals.

 

 

In Spain, sides who are level on points have their league position decided by the head-to-head record. Right now, Xerez trump CDT by virtue of the 2-0 win in January.

 

 

But Tenerife will leapfrog them if they match that score on Sunday because of their superior goal difference.

 

 

Xerez deserve a massive amount of credit for what they have achieved. It’s the first time they have ever been promoted to La Liga, and they have done it on a shoestring.

 

 

They have consistently been a top ten side, but this season they have smashed through the glass ceiling.

 

 

They are a big, bulky side who have a strong defence and lethal attack. Antonito and Momo, who is from Las Palmas, have been a revelation this season.

 

 

They are on a brilliant run at the moment and have won six of their last seven matches. But they have failed to kick away from Tenerife and will be desperate to win the title after leading for so long.

 

 

Tenerife coach Jose Luis Oltra, who is being chased by Real Betis, has been a bit lucky this week. Daniel Kome was always going to be away on international duty with Cameroon, but he will not be joined by Alfaro.

 

 

Earlier this week, it looked as though he would be needed for Spain’s Under-21 European campaign, but he has been left out. Brilliant!

 

 

There is also good news on Ayose, who should overcome a sprained ankle to replace Kome and Marc Bertran. He missed the Sevilla win but is confident of passing a fitness test.

 

 

At the time of writing, there is also an outside chance of inspirational captain Manolo Martinez playing some part.

 

 

A fortnight ago, it looked as if his season was over because of a thigh problem, but he has made an amazing recovery and trained on Thursday.

 

 

If you can’t get to the Heliodoro, don’t worry because Oasis Fm will be broadcasting the match live on Sunday from 7pm, in association with Leonardos Bar in central Las Americas, and First Impressions Design and Print.