* The main actions in the Arena do Corinthians
Boca Juniors took an interesting draw from his tour of San Pablo: tied 0-0 against Corinthians for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores Cup. Yes ok Agustín Rossi He was a figure and saved a penalty, the Auriazul team raised a serious game and was not overwhelmed at any time. He even had several actions to open the scoring, but Cássio, the local goalkeeper, appeared there, also with a great performance.
The local took the initiative, but with the reservations of the fear that Boca instills. He sought to impress aggressiveness in attack, being wide with the pass of the lanes and with mobility in Willian and Guedes. But when he fumbled the ball, he ushered the entire team behind the ball line and allowed his opponent to comfortably move it to midfield. The intention: to prevent Xeneize from putting their sprinters Zeballos and Villa to run.
The coach Vitor Pereira did not misread the game map. At 14 minutes, when Battaglia’s men were able to throw at Changuito, the man from Santiago overflowed and sent a precise cross to Benedetto, who headed into the hands of Cássio.
The procedure was rough and very even. Both casts focused on neutralizing their opponent’s strengths, and that meant they took few risks. Timao was better profiled on the right wing, with Adson and Mantuan. In fact, at 36 ′, the first hooked from the side to the center and finished with his left foot: his attempt went just wide. Boca took rhythm out of the match and waited for his chance.
Until after 39 minutes, Rojo hit Mantuan’s face with his arm and referee Roberto Tobar sanctioned a penalty. Guedes took over and finished off to the goalkeeper’s right, at mid-height. And Agustín Rossi confirmed his status as a specialist in auctions from the 12 steps.
And to complete the task, the Argentine cast almost went into the break with an advantage: After a center from the left, Benedetto hit it blundered, but with direction, and forced Cássio to fly.}
* Rojo’s penalty and Rossi’s impressive save
The second half offered another rhythm. Whether it’s because the two teams were encouraged to shed their fears or because wear and tear began to erode concentration, the truth is that the arrivals appeared. One minute, after a play by Willian, Giuliano finished off in front of the fence and with Rossi almost out of action, but Rojo from the floor dressed as a hero to avoid the goal. At 6, Romero, from a free kick, almost hung the ball from an angle, but Cássio intervened. And at 20 Adson failed after a precise center back.
The passing of the minutes favored Boca, who, upon detecting the impotence of his adversary, almost struck twice. First, 10 minutes from the end, with an attempt by Benedetto, taking Cássio in the wrong direction. And at 90, with a center from Villa that was closed and that the goalkeeper neutralized with a plastic stretch.
Thus, Boca awaits confident the second leg of this series, which will be next Tuesday 5/7, at La Bombonera, also from 9:30 p.m.. The winner of the key will be measured in the quarterfinals against the winner of the cross between Flamengo and Sports Tolima.
Formations:
Corinthians: Cassius; Fagner, John Victor, Raul Gustavo, Luke Piton; Ronnie, Giuliano, Edson; Willian, Roger Guedes and Gustavo Mantuan. DT: Victor Pereira.
Boca Juniors: Agustin Rossi; Luis Advíncula, Carlos Izquierdoz, Marcos Rojo, Agustín Sandez; Pol Fernandez, Alan Varela, Oscar Romero; Exequiel Zeballos, Darío Benedetto and Sebastián Villa. DT: Sebastian Battaglia.
Referee: Roberto Tobar (Chile).
Estadio: Arena Corinthians.