The cross team lost 4-2 against Tricolore Paulista, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. Católica’s shabby first half weighs in on the balance. The Brazilians had three sent off. The rematch will take place next Thursday, at Morumbí.
The reconstruction of the Catholic University, led by Ariel Holan, is far from over. There’s a lot missing to refine, details and more mechanization to get back to being that competitive team the Argentine had in 2020. The South American Cup Round of 16 first leg against Sao Paulo ended 4-2 for the Brazilians with a bitter taste for the four-time champion. Initially doing terror, but changing faces towards complement, they managed to rise from the canvas and achieve rematch with options. Minimal, but options. The series could well have been doomed in Santiago.
In a deplorable state of the pitch (and with the Ignacio Prieto Tribune empty), UC received an old acquaintance: Rogerio Ceni. The legendary goalkeeper reappeared in a place where he had one of the best performances of his life, in that game for the 2013 South American Championship. Now, with another role, he put on a very difficult match for the Crusaders, who were practically overthrown. after the first 45 minutes.
Right off the bat, the stark difference in speed between one team and another was noticeable. The Habs Paulista attacked a lot on the wings and exerted high pressure, which hampered the marginal players a lot. Católica couldn’t go down, so he had to bet on balls. And in the other realm, Miranda did not leave Zampedri alone.
Against this type of rival, any error is paid. It is essential to avoid licenses. And UC gave the first two goals to their opponent. In the 12th minute, the Uruguayan referee Ferreyra sanctioned a penalty for a foul by González on Calleri. A completely avoidable action by the young defender, one of the low points of the evening. Reinaldo made it 1-0.
The game got worse in the 28th minute, with Luciano 2-0 down. The annotation came after a gross error by Mauricio Isla, who had won the ball but Calleri kicked it to give it to his partner, who defined with the goal up front. The Huaso couldn’t believe it. The direct game of Sao Paulo prevailed before the bland tenure of the crusaders. Frontal balls from his zone over-complicated a weak student defense. If the right fringe of Católica, with the tandem Isla-Fuenzalida, tried to generate something, on the left it was the opposite. Parot and Cuevas couldn’t beat their rivals and their own rubble.
If the panorama was complex for a UC that did not react, it worsened within 39 minutes, because Luciano converted the third, by means of an autopass and a definition with the classic “bridge”. Even the most pessimistic and/or most visceral of Crusade fans couldn’t imagine such a telling result against.
The rival with eight
The meeting was doomed. UC had nowhere to go. However, Sao Paulo left the students alive due to irresponsibility, finishing the match with eight players.
At the start of the complement, Fernando Zampedri discounted, chaining a low pass from Fuenzalida in the box. A budding illusion appeared in the foothills. This increased with the first red for the Paulistas, by Igor Vinícius. The very atmosphere of the stadium was lighting up. But the brake on this expectation occurred with the 4-1 of Jonathan Calleri, the striker of Brasileirao, with a superb goal from outside the surface. Beyond Judge Ferreyra’s dubious manipulation, It’s inexplicable that a cast with such an advantage ended the game with three fewer players. Rodrigo Nestor and Calleri himself received the red. This emboldened the Catholic, who went with everything in the Brazilian region. He was able to find a second goal thanks to a Valencia header. And if it had been thinner at the top, maybe the difference would have been reduced more.
It was a typical butler duel. The point to consider for Holan’s men is that the very low first half counts in the balance, and can be decisive for the outcome of the meeting. It must be considered that the double value of visitor goals in Conmebol tournaments no longer runs.
The rematch between Chileans and Brazilians will be played next Thursday, the 7th, in Morumbí. Complicated for the fringed ones. The winner of the key will face, in the quarter-finals, the winner of the cross between The Strongest and Ceará. In the first leg, which took place at the altitude of La Paz, it was favorable to the Brazilians 2-1. Earlier on the weekend, UC resumed their participation in the national tournament by hosting Coquimbo Unido.
score sheet
Catholic University 2 : S. Perez; M. Isla, D. González (67′, B. Ampuero), T. Asta-buruaga, A. Parot; M. Núñez, I. Saavedra (65′, F. Gutiérrez), L. Aued (77′, G. Tapia); JP Fuenzalida (65′, D. Valencia), F. Zampedri and C. Cuevas (65′, F. Orellana). DT: A. Holan.
Sao Paulo 4 : Jandrei; D. Costa, Miranda, Leo; Igor Vinícius, Igor Gomes, G. Neves (90′, Pablo Maia), R. Nestor, Reinaldo (83′, Luizao); J. Calleri and Luciano (58′, Patrick). DT: R. Ceni.
Goals : 0-1, 15 ‘, Reinaldo, on penalty; 0-2, 28′, Luciano receives the ball after an error by Isla; 0-3, 39’, Luciano, pass and puntin; 1-3, 47 ‘, Zampedri, connects the low center of Fuenzalida; 1-4, 63’, Calleri, with a shot from outside the area; 2-4, 85 ‘, Valence, header after a cross from Tapia.
Arbitrator : C. Ferreyra (URU). He warned González, Zampedri (UC); Igor Vinicius, Calleri, Reinaldo, Pablo Maia (SP). At 50′, he expels Igor Vinícius. At 72′, to Rodrigo Nestor. At 87′, to Calleri.
San Carlos de Apoquindo Stadium. 9,000 people attended, approx.
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Source: Latercera
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
