The explosion comes at the end, when the minutes were consumed in an hourglass that generated anxiety. Racing could not handle Riestra, a tough rival who came to Avellaneda with the premise of taking care of his goal. Then, Agustín Almendra throws a cross, Maximiliano Salas plays with a touch from his back and Santiago Solari finally beats Ignacio Arce. The goal is shouted with the anger of venting. For that match that cost horrors, but ended up winning. It was his fifth consecutive victory, including the last two duels of the Copa Sudamericana. And the top of the tournament is light blue and white.
Riestra held the zero until fifty minutes and there was merit, of course, beyond his meanness. At the end of the day, every method is valid and the rest is a matter of taste. However, fans will especially enjoy the way the victory was achieved. Agonizing, but pleasant, the most ambitious approach prevailed. And the dedications on the stands were focused on Cristian Fabbiani.
It is that even on board its unevenness and a low volume of play, the Academy always deserved to keep the three points for your search. Gustavo Costas’ changes paid off this time. When the development was not flowing, he brought out a winger (Gabriel Rojas) and bet on the kid David González, a creative midfielder. Later, Solari and Almendra entered, who ended up being key in the play that unlocked the game.
Racing felt uncomfortable. At all times. She did not resign from the limelight, it is true. However, throughout Costas’ cycle it became clear that teams that risk little are usually more complicated, regardless of their individual quality. He happened to him in the League Cup, when he lost to Sarmiento in this same stadium, a match that ultimately complicated his qualification for the quarterfinals. Riestra settled in the Cylinder with a line of five who tried not to lose order, dispensed with possession and looked for some counter through a long pass.
In this context, the Academy He suffered because he couldn’t find spaces, he moved the ball from here to there, but there was no explosion in the final meters. Only in the last portion of the initial stage did he understand that he had to look for mid-distance shots and break the structures with greater intensity. Then, he put Riestra on the spot.
There were three plays that were generated in the last minutes. A one-on-one from Salas that Arce covered, a shot from afar by Baltasar Rodríguez that missed very close to the right post of the visiting goalkeeper and a corner kick passed by the youth himself that Agustín García Basso headed into the far post over the crossbar. .
Roger Martínez could not make up for the absence of Wonderful Martinez. The Colombian has other characteristics, he is more technical, but less aggressive in the area. And there was no surprise on the sides. Gabriel Rojas and Gastón Martirena released a little. Agustín Urzi was one of the few who was encouraged to go one against one on the left. However, The funnel that Riestra created was difficult to overcome.
In the second half, Racing continued its dominance. Martirena even had more influence, taking off from the right. Even so, he could not translate that superiority into clear plays.
Riestra found some space because Racing took a risk. And Gabriel Arias, who had had little action in the first chapter, blocked a shot by Milton Céliz. Fabbiani oxygenated his team with some changes, none of them disruptive.
Costas had already done one at halftime, bringing on Bruno Zuculini for the injured Nardoni, but he was bolder with González. Although Solari was the most dangerous. And he warned that he could have a great night from an individual action, but was met with another notable save from Arce.
Could Almendra have entered earlier? Of course, but he was coming down with the flu and he only did it with five minutes left. It’s never too late, it will be said. He replaced a faded Baltasar Rodríguez and was part of the goal of success, the one that allows Racing to look at everyone from the top of the standings, a place in line with the expectations generated by this team that goes for everything.
