He only lacked more goals. With a better definition and a less saving goalkeeper than Alexis Martin, Junior would have valued even more a just and deserved 2-1 victory against Unión La Calera, last night at the Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium, in the first game of the round of 16 series of the South American Cup.
The Barranquilla team had a great first half. With intensity, with enthusiasm, with energy, with vigor, with aggressiveness and good football. Not only did he dedicate himself to running and running over his rival, he played judiciously, collectively, with imbalance and creating goal options in the visiting area.
The only objection that perhaps the rojiblancos can face is that they did not finish the initial period with a more bulky score.
They had enough opportunities to end up winning 2-0 and even 3-0. But only Edwin Cetré, who had had two unsuccessful attempts seconds before, was able to decipher the key to the safe that Argentine goalkeeper Alexis Martin had become.
A bomb from Cetré to the upper left corner of Martin, who managed to touch the ball a bit, finally shook the foreign nets at minute 44.
Before that target, Junior repeatedly failed to hit the mark. Sometimes due to lack of aim and others due to Martin’s flying. The goalkeeper drowned out Borja and Rosero’s screams.
Unión La Calera did not come to speculate or to entrench himself behind, he went out to exchange blows, to play with courage, without tricks. Junior several times caught him off guard, but he lacked punch.
In the second half, the rojiblanco reduced its intensity a little, but continued creating situations to score. Borja complained of a push in a play in which he was about to define and Cetré put the ball to kiss the crossbar and the grass with a shot that Martin could not stop.
Everything was going well. However, the local brand in the middle was loosening, James Sánchez already had less energy, and La Calera took over the ball, although without depth.
In any case, in a long ball that took the team and Viera badly between leaving and staying, Thomas Rodríguez took advantage, eluded the goalkeeper and converted the tie. Assistant one raised the flag and the referee called the offside. However, after a long review in the VAR, it was determined that there was no illegal position and the annotation was validated.
Junior felt the blow, while his opponent was encouraged and arrived a couple of times with danger, but without wisdom.
Amaranto Perea moved his bench and gave the team air with the entry of Fabián Ángel and Luis González.
At the same time, Teófilo Gutiérrez grew in his football and began to lead with his quality the search for the goal, which occurred at the auction of the game, precisely in a play that he started and that was completed by ‘Cariaco’, Fuentes and, finally, Borja , who with an accurate header extended his scoring streak. Deserved victory.
.
