Vélez Sarsfield achieved a key victory at home against Arsenal de Sarandí by 2 to 1, in the continuity of the fifth date, Zone A, of the League Cup Professional.
The team led by the technician Sebastian Mendez He took the lead with a header from the striker Santiago Castro13 minutes into the first half, while the midfielder Lucas Brochero He equalized the score two minutes into the complement.
Faced with heavy rain and growing impatience in Liniers, 32 minutes into the second half, midfielder Juan Ignacio Méndez executed a precise shot from outside the area that gave the victory to Velez and moved it away from the last positions in the annual table.
As in their last home match, where they beat River Plate 2-0, Velez The game began in the relegation playoff zone, which translated into an offensive demand from the beginning.
The victory of Huracán over Gimnasia de La Plata by 2 to 0 that occurred yesterday, returned Fortín to the feared echelon, along with the La Plata team itself.
With this pressure, the team Sebastian Mendezwho opted for the inclusion of the forward Abiel Osorio rather Brian Romero (which did not reach 100 percent physically), he came out somewhat nervous and imprecise, although determined to take center stage.
A tough tackle from the attacker Santiago Castro about the visiting center Nestor Breitenbruch led to the first yellow card of the match, when barely a minute had passed in the game.
It was the preview of a frictional first half, played in the midfield and where the danger came from above.
Thus it was that the young striker from “Velezano”, Castro, He broke parity at 13 minutes with a good header that connected with the center of Francisco Pizziniwho overflowed the right wing before launching an effective aerial pass.
Quite a respite for the locals, who from that moment dominated the development, and were even able to widen the difference also through headers, first from the defender Valentin Gomez and then the captain Lautaro Giannetti.
Velez He became strong on both wings, and generated danger with constant projections from the side Elias Gomezon the left, and from the steering wheel Francisco Pizzini on the right.
However, in the last minutes of the first half, “Fortín” lowered the intensity and allowed the visitors to come out of the back, who stopped more in the rival field, although without generating danger.
For the complement, Arsenal’s interim coach, Darío Espínola, decided to bring in striker Juan Bautista Cejas for Leandro Moreira, and generated a rapid change in the development of the match.
Just two minutes into the final stage, Cejas himself overflowed from the left and launched a cross that midfielder Lucas Brochero connected against a weak mark from the local center backs and a weak start from the goalkeeper.
Equality fell on Liniers as thickly as the rain, which progressively increased during the night.
Vélez once again made inaccuracies that encouraged the visitor to approach the “Chila” Gómez goal on some occasions, although without clear danger.
Given the lack of reaction, Méndez ordered the entry of midfielder Nicolás Garayalde and full-back Leonardo Jara, and then of the forwards. Gianluca Prestianni and Braian Romero. but nervousness took over the local team.
When impatience grew in the stands and it seemed increasingly difficult for Vélez to improve from the game, a powerful saving shot came from the midfielder. Juan Ignacio Mendezwhich entered goalkeeper Alejandro Medina’s corner.
With the new advantage, “Fortín” was filled with confidence and, faced with an insufficient response from Arsenal, ended up winning a difficult and tight but fundamental victory in the fight to avoid relegation.
The same requirement awaits the Liniers team for the next day, when they visit Huracán in Parque Patricios, on Saturday at 9 p.m., and then have another commitment away from home, a condition where they have not yet scored points, against Tigre in Victoria.
For its part, Arsenal, which remains last in averages and annual table, will visit Atlético Tucumán on Monday at 9 p.m.
Formations and scores
Source: Ambito
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