With a heroic performance by their goalkeeper Nelson Insfrán and with a goal by Nicolás Colazo scored when he was already injured and about to leave the field, Gimnasia beat Colón 1-0 in Rosario in the relegation playoff and ensured their permanence in the highest category. The Santa Fe team, which had the tie at the feet of Wanchope Ábila and Perlaza in injury time, went down to the Primera Nacional along with Arsenal.
If Gimnasia needed heroes to ensure its continuity in First Division, it has two proper names to corroborate it: Colazo and Insfrán. The ex-Boca winger, because he hit an unforgettable left foot shot into the corner, when he was already injured and it was a matter of seconds before he left the field, to score the only goal of the game before the end of the first half. And the goalkeeper, who had not saved a single game in the tournament, because he had two impressive saves in added time, when Colón pressed in search of an equalizer.
The meeting was as expected as could be expected given everything that was at stake. With nerves and tension, the two felt handcuffed by the situation. In that context, Colón tried to play a little more based on Botta’s contributions, but Gimnasia neutralized him with substance and concentration. This is how it seemed that the first half was going to go away, but Colazo, already feeling his leg, changed history with an unforgettable left foot after Soldano brought the ball down to him at the gate of the area.
At a disadvantage, Damonte’s team opted for variations and sought by all means to corner Gimnasia, who fell too far behind and held on as best they could. He scored two goals through Wanchope, but in one he was ahead and in the other there was a prior infringement by Toledo on Insfrán. Then came injury time, which had a special chapter reserved for the Gimnasia goalkeeper, who replaced Durso at the last minute, whose performances were weak in the last stretch of the tournament.
The Formoseño goalkeeper promoted by Diego Maradona during his stay in La Plata, who had inglorious loan spells at Central Córdoba and San Martín de Tucumán and who did not come with continuity, blocked a low cross shot from Ábila and then a half turn to the angle to Perlaza to save Lobo from relegation and remain in the history of the club.
For Colón, who three years ago celebrated his first title in the First Division, the fall meant the end of a slide that has worsened in recent months and that condemned the team to a new relegation.
2023-12-02 03:01:00
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