Racing passed over Athletico Paranaense by 4 to 1 in the second leg of the South American Cup and qualified for the first time in its history to the semifinals of the tournament. With goals from Agustín Almendra, Adrián Maravilla Martínez, Roger Martínez and Gastón Martinena; Nikao discounted for the visit, the Academy played one of the best games of the year and got tickets to the next round (the first leg had ended 0-1 in Curitiba). Now, they will have to face one of the candidates for the title: Ramón Díaz’s Corinthians in mid-October.
Gustavo Costas’ team achieved a victory that excited the entire racing fans. He entered the Cilindro de Avellaneda with the decision to bypass the Brazilian team, led by the Argentine Lucho González. And not only did they manage to be the only team on the field, but they also liked it and scored goals, as the books of good football dictate.
At the dawn of the game, a remote-controlled missile from Almendra unleashed madness in Avellanada. Not a minute had passed, and Racing was already 1-0 up. Then came the local dance: the scorer Maravilla Martínez appeared, to define in the area with the second goal for the Academy, and Roger Martínez, with the third, to close an anthology first half.
Of course, you have to leave an entire paragraph for a proper name: Juan Fernando Quintero. The Colombian displayed the Colombian star repertoire that led him to be considered one of the best players in America. Deluxe pass for the second goal, and star play for the third.
The second half was too much. The Avellaneda team could not avoid the discount of the visit, by Nikao. However, he settled the dispute with a great goal from another game, by Martinena, with a right foot from outside the area to unleash madness in the Cilindro.
In this way, Racing made history and qualified for the first time in the Copa Sudamericana. Furthermore, the last time Racing had reached the semifinals of a CONMEBOL tournament was in the 1997 Libertadores. That time it was eliminated by Sporting Cristal. This year they will face Corinthians between October 22 and 24, in a match that will begin in Avellaneda and end in Brazil.
Synthesis Racing Athletico Paranaense for the South American Cup
Source: Ambito
