Match Reports

Saturday 16 December 2006 and Malaga's last home game of the year is against Tenerife, who are just one point better off in the league table. After last week's terrible performance in the draw against bottom club Vecinario in the wind and rain of Gran Canaria, Malaga find themselves 17th in the table (out of 22) just two points clear of the fourth bottom club and the relegation zone.

Changes had to be made and a home win this weekend is imperative. The defensive frailties which have dogged Malaga all season were helped for this game with the dropping of Cesar Navas from the squad. The giant centre back has had a torrid season, with his mistakes being regularly punished by giving away goals. The return of the Argentine (Alan) Schurrer after injury is welcome and offers the dream pairing of Jesule and Schurrer in the heart of the defence for the first time in the league this season.
Also returning is Silva to again play just in front of the back four, at the expense of OJ Morales and the injured Romero.
There is still no place for out of form left back and captain Valcarce (Arnau is today's captain) and playmaker Sandro gets his chance to play alongside Hidalgo and Jonaton Valle in the most creative midfield that Muniz has put on the field since becoming manager. We are not convinced about Jonaton Valle, as he seems to spend most of his time with his backside on the pitch, whingeing to the referee, but there is no denying the effort he puts in and this must be impressing the manager.
Up front, Counago is preferred to Chengue Morales.
So it's a return to the familiar 4-1-3-2 formation for Muniz after experimenting for the last two matches with a very narrow 4-1-2-1-2 set up.

Malaga (4-1-3-2): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Jesule, Schurrer and Jose Mari; Silva; Jonaton Valle, Sandro and Hidalgo; Salva and Counago.

After a perfectly lovely sunny winter's afternoon, the game kicks off at 18:30h under the floodlights in a still warm 18C. However, it's a relatively small crowd of 8751 spectators, after the recent very poor performances. Malaga have won the toss and are kicking towards the Fondo end in the first half.
But it's Tenerife who have the first chance. After only 40 seconds on the clock, Malaga concede a free kick on the edge of their box. The kick beats the wall but goes wide of the near post.
Tenerife seem to have the initiative in these opening minutes as Malaga struggle to find first gear and force another effort from another free kick after 3'. This time Silva heads clear.
We have to wait until the 7th minute before we see a shot from Malaga. Jesus Gamez takes a throw in on the right to Jonaton Valle. The diminutive one starts a run along the 18 yard line, looking to make a pass. There is nobody available and no challenges from the Tenerife defence, so he has a go, but it's wide of the far post.
With three central midfielders, Malaga is relying on the overlapping of the fullbacks, Jesus Gamez down the right and Jose Mari down the left. In 9' Jose Mari whips in a delightful cross for Salva and there is some panic in the Tenerife defence as they concede Malaga's first corner.
The next minute Jesus Gamez does the same down the right and another corner is won.
Counago has a half chance in 13' when Sandro sends in a ball into the inside left channel for him to chase. Tenerife goalkeeper Bernardo is quick off his line though and reaches the ball first.
Tenerife have their first real chance on goal from their first corner in 19'. Giant striker, Raul Sanchez, beats Jesule to the ball but heads over.
We have to wait until the 26' for Malaga's next attacking move. This time Salva provides the pass into the inside right channel for Jonaton Valle. The youngster has no pace though and Bernardo mops up easily.
In 27' Counago is clearly impeded in the box running after another through pass, this time from Hidalgo. Penalty? No.
Malaga are conceding free kicks in dangerous areas, but Tenerife are only able to hit the wall on each occasion.
In 30' Malaga come closest yet to opening the scoring. A poor pass back is latched onto by Salva in the box, but Bernardo is again first to the ball and smothers it.
In 31', the first booking of the game and it's Schurrer for persistent fouling as yet another free kick is given on the edge of the Malaga penalty area. Again the chance is wasted as the visitor's kick hits the wall.
In 32' Counago is lurking at the far post and Sandro picks him out with a delightful chip. However, full back Clavero gets there first to give away the corner.
Hidalgo takes the corner from the right. The ball lands around the penalty spot and two Tenerife defenders seem to get in each other's way and one appears to handle the ball. We are on our feet screaming for a penalty when the ball breaks to Counago on the six yard line. From our seats directly behind the goal, we clearly see COUNAGO control the ball with his arm. He does so beautifully down to his left foot and taps the ball home. GOAL, or is it? The ref is signalling for a goal but there is a bit of a stooshie as the entire Tenerife team runs to the linesman, out on our left hand side. The referee also runs to the linesman, but we know that from both the ref's and linesman's viewpoint, they could not possibly tell that Counago had handled the ball. The goal stands and La Rosaleda erupts!
Malaga 1 Tenerife 0
On reflection, Malaga deserve the lead, as apart form the opening minutes, they have controlled the game, created the most chances and Arnau, in the Malaga goal, has yet to make a save.
In 37' Malaga have a chance to go two up. Long throw expert Jesus Gamez takes a throw from the right which causes some panic in the Tenerife defence, but Salva has been pushing and gives away the free kick.
In 42' Sanma is booked for kicking Sandro after the little maestro had fouled the Tenerife captain.
Last week Jose Mari scored from just inside the opponents half from a free kick. This week, on 45', after Sandro has been brought down in the centre circle, Jose Mari decides to try his luck again. He sends it high into the air and beats the keeper, but the ball curls just wide of the post.

Half time Malaga 1 Tenerife 0

Malaga have been much tighter in defence with Jesule, Schurrer and Silva keeping Tenerife under control through the middle. This is the first time this season that the defensive unit has not given any cause for concern. Jesule in particular is having a very good game, beating Raul Sanchez to the ball on the ground, but particularly in the air, where the tall striker is at least a foot taller than the centre back. Also, Malaga have been closing down much better all over the field, which has stopped Tenerife building moves, although Malaga have conceded a number of free kicks as a result.
At the restart, it is Malaga who start the brighter. We are all conscious of Muniz's terrible tactics trying to defend a one goal lead against RM Castilla in the last home game and are pleased to see Malaga continue where they left off, looking for a second goal which would surely kill this game off.
In 50' Jesule is booked for high feet in a tackle in the centre circle. The free kick is taken as a shot and although it is on target and gets through to Arnau, he gathers the ball comfortably.
In 53' the long throw tactic from Jesus Gamez is proving difficult for Tenerife to defend against. Gamez finds Salva who in turn heads on for Counago, but the striker finds the ball just out of reach.
Tenerife make two changes in 55'. Both central midfielders are replaced with Ramon and Sanma coming off for Sergio and Suso.
In 58' it's Bernardo to the rescue again from another teasing pass from Sandro, this time for Jesus Gamez. Again the goalkeeper races off his line to thwart the Malaga player.
In 59' Tenerife resort to long shots at goal, but on each occasion, they are blocked by Jesule.
In 60' Chengue Morales comes on for the ineffective Jonaton Valle. Malaga now go 4-3-3 with Chengue right, Counago left and Salva down the middle as they try to find that second and decisive goal.
The next minute there is another strong penalty claim from the home side after Salva is pushed to the ground after receiving a beauty of a pass from Jose Mari. No penalty.
In 65' Tenerife make their final substitution with Number 9 Angel coming on for Luis Gil.
In 66' Arnau makes his first save of the game, when he dives out of his box to beat Raul Sanchez to a cross, which Hidalgo was then on hand to clear.
In 67' Suso is booked for a foul on Counago.
In 71' Chengue Morales is alone at the far post when Jose Mari sends a cross over a crowded penalty area. The 8'3" Uruguayan striker has so much time, he tries to place his shot accurately instead of using his usual blasting method. Instead he puts it wide!
In 72' the tiring Counago is replaced by Ernesto. The team reverts to 4-1-3-2 with Ernesto taking up the left side of midfield.
The next minute and Raul Sanchez has the ball in the net after bagatelle in the Malaga penalty box. But, our linesman (the one who said "goal" for Counago in the first half) says "offside". Whew!
In 77' Sandro is booked for dissent.
In 78' Tenerife miss another opportunity as Raul Sanchez heads over after Jose Mari was completely undone by his corresponding right full back Betran for pace, before sending in a peach of a cross for his striker.
In 79' Perico comes on for Sandro (before the little hothead gets a second yellow card, perhaps?) Surprisingly, the right winger takes Sandro's place in the centre of midfield. We now have five left footed players on the park for Malaga in Schurrer, Jesule, Jose Mari, Ernesto and Perico. That must be some sort of a record!?!
In 83' Chengue goes down in heap after a clash near the centre line with centre back Sicilia. The giant looks in pain and limps off the field for treatment.
In 85' Chengue returns to the fray but he still seems to limping on his left leg.
In 88' Chengue goes down again heavily in another crunching tackle, this time from left back Clavero. Jose Mari tries again for a 40 yard goal, but the ball is semi-cleared out to Ernesto, out on the 18 yard line. Unfortunately the ball falls to his right foot and in the time it took him to try to get it onto his left, the chance was gone.
In 89' Chengue is sent off for kicking full ball Clavero up the backside, so Malaga go down to 10 men.
Then, to everybody's horror, the fourth official puts up his board for stoppage time and it's.......SIX (6) minutes! What?
Six minutes of frantic nail-biting as Tenerife tried everything to get an equaliser against their depleted opponents. It was summed up in the 96' when Malaga concede a freekick just inside the Tenerife half. Bernardo comes out of his area to take the kick with 20 players in the Malaga penalty box. The ball falls to Schurrer to head clear. Fulltime whistle blows, Malaga win and take all three points.
Full time Malaga 1 Tenerife 0

Despite the slender win, Malaga are good value for the result with a good many things to take away, before their final match before the Christmas break, away to Real Murcia on Wednesday night.
The defence looked the best it has been all season with Jesule, Schurrer and Silva commanding the centre.
The two 20 year old full backs, Jesus Gamez and Jose Mari look confident in both in defence and going forward.
I think we still await to see the best of the midfield, where Jonaton Valle continues to look lightweight and we need another striker up front who can intimidate opposing defences. Still this win sees Malaga leap seven places up the league and the supporters leave the ground happier than they have been for some time.
The next home game is against Andalucian rivals, Almeria, and is scheduled for Sunday 7 January 2007. This will follow the three week Christmas break which starts after Wednesday's away game to Real Murcia.
Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.