Union Sur Yaiza are quickly learning how tough the second federation can be, as they head towards a season that could end with a brutal scrap for survival between up to ten sides.

Last year, when the side were back in the Tercera Federación, away games would involve a short island-hop to one of the other Canary Islands, and players would often be back home in the same evening carrying a Binter chocolate bar for the kids.

This year, every other week involves several hours of gruelling travel to Madrid, Extremadura or even North Africa before a ball is even kicked, and after a bright start to the season, the pressure appears to be taking its toll. This is tougher than anyone thought.

Yaiza began the New Year with a trip to Toledo, the historical city south of Spain’s capital, where hosts CD Illescas were waiting to take them on in a direct duel to avoid the relegation spots in Group V of the Second Federation.

Illescas immediately attempted to take control of the match, going close with a shot by Chaves and a header by Eu, but Yaiza met them head on and took the lead in the 12th minute when Malick’s pressure on Chaves allowed Marco Siverio to intercept the ball and pass it to Malick, who made no mistake with his shot.

After the first half hour, Illescas equalised after a Pesca run down the right ended with him beating Yaiza keeper Nauzet at the near post. All square at half time.

Unión Sur Yaiza could have taken the lead at the start of the second half when Marco Siverio volleyed from a throw-in, but the Illescas goalkeeper blocked the shot with his foot. CD Illescas answered immediately with a goal – César Gómez heading in a Pesca cross from the right wing.

From then on, Unión Sur Yaiza barely threatened their rival’s goal. The only event worth mentioning was a play by Emiliano Trovento on the left, who passed for Marco Siverio, but the striker shot wide.

Final result: CD Illescas 2, Unión Sur Yaiza 1, a result that tightens the relegation zone of the Second Federation.

At 14 points from the nearest play-off spot, it seems any dreams of a second successive promotion are now over, but survival remains entirely possible in an intensely competitive league where just eight points separate the 8th placed team from the 16th of 18 sides.

FORTHCOMING HOME FIXTURES

2ND FEBRUARY: GETAFE B

16TH FEBRUARY: CD COLONIA MOSCARDÓ

The post US Yaiza Finding It Tough Up There first appeared on Gazette Life.

November brought a bitter lesson about the realities of life in the second federation to Union Sur Yaiza, as the team from Lanzarote’s south suffered four defeats on the trot.

Their unbeaten home record is now a distant memory after two losses at the Municipal Stadium, and a couple of heavy losses on away visits to Madrid also piled on the pain.

A shorter trip to Tenerife on the 8th of December seemed more promising when Yaiza went two goals up within the first five minutes. In the second minute, a fine cross from left winger Pablo Bolado was headed into the back of the net by Marco Siverio, and just two minutes later, a free kick from the edge of the area by Fabricio went in off the woodwork, evading Tenerife goalie Martín’s frantic dive.

Yaiza had their chances to score a third and put the match beyond doubt, but it wasn’t to be as the blue-and-white Tenerife reserve team struck twice in a minute to draw the game.

In the 73rd minute, Yaiza failed to clear a cross from Óscar Castro on the left and Tenerife striker Jorge Padilla put the ball into the net.

Then, just a minute later, Padilla turned swiftly in the area and put the ball out of the reach of Yaiza keeper Nauzet Pérez.

Positive aspects to take from the match were the quality shown by Yaiza, and their first point in over a month.

After 15 games, Unión Sur Yaiza lie in the middle of the table in 9th position, eight points below the promotion play-off spots and an uncomfortable three points above the drop zone.

Five teams will be relegated from the Second Federation this season, with another entering a brutal play-off round to stay up. Yaiza’s only aim this season was to survive at the highest level it has ever played and, although early results brought euphoria, that challenge is now the team’s only priority

FORTHCOMING HOME GAMES

19TH JANUARY: CD CORÍA

The post U.S. Yaiza’s Tough Challenge Turns Real first appeared on Gazette Life.

Unión Sur Yaiza’s home stadium continues to be an impregnable fortress as the greens won the first Canarian derby of the season and enter the play-off positions.

U.S. Yaiza’s principal aim when they won promotion last summer was to survive their first season in Group 5 of Spain’s Second Federation – the highest league they have ever played in. But that season has got off to a start that has exceeded all expectations, and the southern side remain unbeaten at home and sitting pretty in fifth place.

The fourth victory of the season came against La Palma side Atlético Paso on October 13th. It was the first Canarian derby of the season in the Second Federation, and the visitors from la isla bonita brought 80 supporters to the Municipal stadium in Yaiza for a match that was played out in front of 450 spectators.

The only goal in the match came when Yaiza’s Jordan turned a corner in at the far post at the start of the second half, giving the home side a lead that they managed to hold on to with little trouble.

Yaiza began to find space on the field and create opportunities to increase the difference in the scoreline. The clearest chance came from Marco Siverio, after an excellent play by Emiliano Trovento, but the striker’s shot went just wide of the post.

Yaiza’s veteran keeper, Nauzet Pérez, managed to keep another clean sheet in front of his home fans.

In November, Yaiza face visits to Toledo, where they’ll take on CF Talavera; and San Sebastián de los Reyes in Madrid, where they’ll meet UD Sanse. At home, they’ll be hoping to keep up that unbeaten record against Cacareño, from Extremadura, and Adarve, from Madrid.

FORTHCOMING HOME FIXTURES

NOV 10TH: CP CACAREÑO

NOV 24TH: UNION ADARVE

The post Still Unbeaten At Home first appeared on Gazette Life.

Union Sur Yaiza’s players will face some long journeys in their first season in Spain’s national leagues, after the Royal Spanish Football Federation decided the composition of the leagues in the Second Division RFEF.

Yaiza will play in Group V of the five-league division, and their main objective will be to survive their first year at this level. It is the first time a Lanzarote team has competed in the national leagues since UD Lanzarote were relegated from the Second Division B in 2010.

The Yaiza team will swap short island hops and free Binter chocolate bars for the three-hour haul to Madrid for eight of their away games.  Four games will be played in Castilla La Mancha, south of Madrid and two other fixtures will take place in Extremadura, whose Badajóz Airport is not served directly by Lanzarote.

Only two visits will be in the Canaries, against CD Tenerife B and La Palma’s Atletico Paso. 

The longest journey, however, will be to North Africa to play in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. This will probably involve a flight to Andalusia and a ferry trip across the Straits of Gibraltar.

The season will begin on the weekend of the 31^st August/ 1^st September.

The post US Yaiza face season of travel first appeared on Gazette Life.