31/01/2026 18:41 hrs.
Independiente, inevitably, ends up being judged by the results. His people, with valid arguments, whistled goodbye to their team as soon as the tie against Vélez was consummated. It was the third in a row. El Rojo only accumulates duds at the beginning of the Apertura, with the aggravating factor that they were home in two of these. From this point of view, purely statistical and results-oriented, those of Quinteros are in debt. And it’s true. As well as that they continue to rise and that, at least, what is seen on the field is a team that stands up and plays against anyone. The one that arrived in Avellaneda was a leading Fortín, which had won the first two games and is one of the most intense teams in the championship. But if you don’t win everything is a loss…
King was the figure
The Independiente fan will care little, it is evident that he saw a high-voltage match. One that could have been for anyone. More for those of Barros Schelotto, it is true, because they ended up playing Rey. But Red, even so, also had his own and never gave up attacking. It was a back and forth game. Exciting. Thrilling. With uncertainty until the end. In fact, in the last minute the visitor had it first with a poorly finished one-on-one by Verón (well blocked by Rey) and, at the touch, a cross that Ávalos lowered inside the area and Malcorra failed to connect before the departure of the giant goalkeeper Montero.
The curious thing, however, was how the match ended up developing. In 94 exciting minutes, total ecstasy came in just 60 seconds. That’s how long Vélez was able to hold on to the lead. At 31′ of the first half, Godoy connected a corner kick at the near post and his header set up Gordon. The winger pushed her in the six-yard box and sent her to save.
The kid was celebrating when Independiente tied it for him. Gordon himself scored the goal, but now against him! He couldn’t close a cross that had passed the entire area and he put it to Montero, who was perplexed because he would never have imagined such a mistake. Jano went from being taken by the cameras celebrating to taking his head for what he had done. He wanted to try a small claim by asking for offside from Ávalos, but the number nine had not actively participated in the play.
From then on, the scripts were clear. Vélez was more and handled the ball better, especially from the feet of Valdés and the verticality of Pellegrini. However, it lacked forcefulness. In the clearest, already in the second half, Rey took a very clear one-on-one against the 10 himself. It was the most important of several that the goalkeeper and captain of Rojo had.
On the other side, Quinteros’ men almost always prevailed by looking for the ball to Ávalos, who went all the way down and near the end he had a left footed shot inside the area that went close. Montiel, at times, was also the most unbalancing, although what Rojo lacks is better elaboration and the splitting of his full-backs, who are rarely able to make the 2-1 in the 4-3-3 that their coach advocates.
It was, in short, a tie that from a numerical point of view was much more useful to Vélez than to Independiente, who had just lost two points in the final against Newell’s. At least, although it is little, it does not lose, it adds up and the idea becomes stronger. Is it enough?
