La Cara de Tenerife

In the early 1990s, futbol legend Johan Cruyff directed over a Barcelona team that was loaded with stars like Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman. Those teams were knicknamed "The Dream Team", a direct take off of the 1992 USA Men's Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics. FC Barcelona won La Liga in 1991-92, 92-93 and 93-94. Team USA easily won its gold medal but FC Barcelona's road to each of the three championships proved to be alot more difficult. In fact, it could be construed as somewhat miraculous. The first two of those La Liga titles were won in similar fashion and both wore "La Cara de Tenerife".

Way back in 1992 when a win in futbol only earned you two points, Real Madrid found themselves one point ahead of Barcelona going into the last game of the season. Barcelona were home to Real Sociedad while Madrid had to travel way out to the Canary Islands to play in the heat of Tenerife. Madrid jumped out to a quick 0-2 lead and a La Liga championship was all but won. Barca upheld their end by netting a goal against Sociedad. But them something happened. Tenerife, who was had everything to play for as they were trying to ward off relegation, got their game together and scored in the latter stages of the first half. Then they scored again. 2-2. Then, as the game was nearing its end, they secured their stay in La Liga and also gift-wrapped La Liga title to Barcelona with a goal delighting their sun-soaked fans. The TV monitors in the Nou Camp transmitted the happy news to the Catalans and the celebration started in both Barcelona and Tenerife. Real Madrid was devastated and Marca aptly shot photographs of players like Fernando Hierro slumping off the pitch in tears. This face of anguish, pain, helplessness and utter defeat is what is called, "La Cara de Tenerife".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDrHIsVMsBQ&feature=related

Oddly enough, the same exact scene played out the following year. Same situation. Madrid ahead by one point over Barca. Last game to be played at Tenerife. Barca at home against a Basque side (Atletic Bilbao). Except this time Madrid didn't even allow themselves to start celebrating early. They were beaten from the start and Tenerife's two first half goals put the game away early while Barca cruised to victory over Bilbao. Once again, "La Cara de Tenerife."

Fast forward to present day, the drama that played out those two late May days in the industrial section of Santa Cruz de Tenerife seems long ago. Tenerife has been up and down between La Liga and La Segunda for the last 15 years. There has been some European glory, including an impressive run to a UEFA Cup semifinal in the late 90s, but lately financial trouble has hampered the club from any run of success. However that does not seem to be stopping this year's squad who currently sit in 3rd place with 10 points and hold the last promotion spot to La Liga. The fans of this island team can only hope that on the last day of this year's season, they will be inflicting "La Cara de Tenerife" on someone else.

Jornada 6 - Resultados
Murcia - Elche 1-0
Hércules - Zaragoza 2-1
Alavés - Las Palmas 2-1
Sevilla At - R.Sociedad 1-0
Xerez - Levante 2-0
Girona - Rayo 1-1
Castellón - Córdoba 1-1
Gimnástic - Salamanca 2-0
Eibar - Albacete 1-1
Tenerife - Alicante 3-1
Huesca - Celta 0-0


Clasificacion

1. Hércules - 12
2. Salamanca - 11
3. Tenerife - 10
4. Xerez - 10
5. Rayo - 10
6. Levante - 10
7. R.Sociedad - 9
8. Castellón - 9
9. Alavés - 9
10. Gimnástic - 8
11. Huesca - 8
12. Zaragoza - 8
13. Girona - 8
14. Albacete - 8
15. Córdoba - 8
16. Eibar - 8
17. Las Palmas - 6
18. Sevilla At - 6
19. Alicante - 5
20. Celta - 5
21. Murcia - 4
22. Elche - 1