The one who seemed dead in Group A, and who was little talked about, managed to recover from the adversities and doubts that surrounded Juan Cruz Real since he took the reins of the eleventh shark. With several casualties on their starting payroll, and with a coup called Copa Sudamericana that seized Junior de Barranquilla in their own home against Unión de Santa Fe, the Barranquilla cast set the goal of being the protagonist in the BetPlay League 2022-I.
And he has done well, because in the group of death sharing with Millonarios, Atlético Nacional and Atlético Bucaramanga, there was little that football fans expected from Juan Cruz Real and now they depend on themselves in the final match. A win in Medellin against the Purslane would leave them in the final. The collective game, and the recoveries of players have been the keys in the Junior that leaves them with great hopes in the tournament.
At FUTBOLRED we analyze the key points of Junior’s victory:
Aggressive from the start: Junior took the lead in the match, as he was the one who showed clear arguments to take the three points in a duel in which Atlético Bucaramanga wanted to cut short Barranquilla’s path, but the truth is that he never attacked. For their part, the locals stole the ball and with possession created danger in the goal of Juan Camilo Chaverra. It was missing forcefulness at various times.
Great offensive power on the wings: those directed by Juan Cruz Real showed several facets, especially in the first part where the right and left lifts were essential. In one, where Walmer Pacheco took over the right side, and with centers he created danger. The combinations between Pacheco and Fabián Sambueza bore fruit and from there came the only goal in a center measured at the head of Miguel Ángel Borja in the background. On the other band, it was Yesus Cabrera who sent shipments to the area that Daniel Rosero put Juan Camilo Chaverra to work.
The collective game: As usual in the Junior game, associated football became constant again on the field. Playing, they released spaces, which were later used as an action in the first half that Luis ‘Cariaco’ González combined with Fabián Sambueza leaving him alone, but his cross shot was saved by Juan Camilo Chaverra. In the complement they tried, but they played too much.
Miguel Borja recovered the goal: The first 15 minutes were running when Fabián Sambueza sent a measured center to the head of Borja who only had to put his forehead to open the scoring. A goal that also reassured the striker who had not scored a home run since the first day against Atlético Nacional. Junior not only celebrated the Cordovan’s recovery, but also the great level of Sambueza and Walmer Pacheco, who were lost on many occasions. Similarly, the scorer had more than one option to liquidate and unusually squandered.
With casualties, he got the result: Gabriel Fuentes and Didier Moreno, fundamental pillars, could not be present, in addition to Fredy Hinestroza who has not yet recovered from a blow. Edwin Velasco did well, mostly in defense without going up much, Carlos Esparragoza, who is already a reality in Junior, once again left the Metropolitano speechless with a great job in midfield. The absences were not noticed and the Barranquilleros are looking forward to the end of the home runs.
