Calderón during hislast game in charge

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600 Tenerife supporters made their presence felt on the day on the neighbouring island.  There is little or no rivalry between Vecindario and Tenerife but unsurprisingly scores of yellow UD Las Palmas shirts could be seen in the stands. They were cheering on the local side as well as goading the travelling support.

On the pitch many changes were made again despite the previous week’s great win. Medina was moved to right back to allow Pablo Sicilia to return to centre half and it was good to see Pablo back after a seven month injury layoff. Victor Bravo and Chechu swung in some good early crosses but Kiko’s headers lacked accuracy. The game was not the best of spectacles; the blanquiazules were struggling to read the run of the ball on the unfamiliar plastic pitch and it looked as if the game would peter out into a 0-0 draw. But then with only five minutes remaining Kitoko was tripped in the box and Perona converted the penalty to put Tenerife into the lead. Vecindario won a corner and as the ball came over Futre challenged with Sergio in the Tenerife goal and somehow the ball was punched into the net. In the end a sickening result for Tenerife, conceding so late.  

22/01/2012

CD Tenerife 2:3 Sporting Gijon B

A shock result in the Heliodoro Stadium which resulted in the post match sacking of manager Antonio Calderón .

Various changes were made once again - it has been a factor in Calderón’s downfall that in the six months of the season he could never decide his best starting eleven. For today’s invention Calderón played Tarantino as right back, Sicilia and Medina as centre halves and new boy Raul Llorente (the man of the match) as left back. Local lad Abel returned to midfield alongside Kitoko. Chechu and Victor Bravo were the wingers with Tacón and Aridane in attack. Aridane was preferred to Kiko up front but the giant striker squandered early chances. Tenerife was attacking down the right flank with ease and they really should have been two or three goals to the good after twenty minutes. Sporting’s first real attack though led to the opening goal, a bundled effort that in fact rebounded off the shin of a Tenerife defender to spin over the line.  It was a cruel blow but it was to get worse as Sporting were 0-2 up soon after, this time with a sublime 25 yard free kick. With chants against the manager ringing around the stadium by the 8,352 crowd the first half drew to a close.

The second half was to prove to be an exciting affair as the blanquiazules fought back. Kiko Raton accompanied giant Aridane upfront and it was new signing Aridane who pulled a goal back, tapping the ball in after a crossbar rebound. Tenerife was in full flow and left back Llorente will surely become a crowd favourite with his energetic style and determination. On 75 minutes a penalty was awarded for the home side and Perona converted with a cheeky chip into the centre of the goal. At 2-2, fifteen minutes to go and the crowd right behind the team it appeared that there was only one winner.

Tenerife attacked in the warm winter sunshine, lively Nico came off the bench to create chances but the play was rather cluttered due to Sporting packing the defence. Against the run of play on 83 minutes Sporting sprung a blistering counter attack. Speedy winger Mendy’s initial shot was well saved but theball rebounded to Guerrero who blasted the ball into the net to make the score 2-3.

Minutes after the game news filtered through that Calderón had been sacked. Not a great surprise even though CD Tenerife have been almost all season in the top three.

Let’s hope that the new manager, Andrés García Tébar can find a settled team, the goal is a top four finish and a place in the play-offs come May.

Gallery: Calderón sacked, points lost

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