Boca put its heart against Cruzeiro, but failed in the first and last of the night and left the Copa Sudamericana

That last penalty that went over Miguel Merentiel can mark more than just the removal of Boca ante Cruise for the round of 16 of the South American Cup. We will now start talking about the future of Diego Martinezthe coach who is already looked askance by the president Juan Roman Riquelme. Perhaps the enormous effort of the footballers, who managed to reach the penalties despite playing almost the entire game with one less due to the expulsion of Luis Advíncula at 29 seconds. Boca deserved better luck in the series, but lost 2-1 (5-4 on penalties) against a much inferior rival. That is why doubts will rest on the 45-year-old coach, who showed strength to continue, just when some names of possible replacements begin to circulate.

It is complex to comment on a game in which a team is one less due to expulsion before the minute, but it is even more difficult to play 10 against 11 over 90 minutes. That happened to Boca due to the red card that the Peruvian defender received for hitting Lucas Romero and the first play of the duel. There were 9 seconds left when the Peruvian’s ball went as long as his foot. He didn’t hesitate Wilmar Roldan and showed him the red one. It must be said that the sanction was good and that is why it was not reviewed by the VAR.

Everything went wrong for Boca at that start, just when minutes before it had received the news of qualification for the 2025 Club World Cup after the elimination of Nacional de Montevideo in the Copa Libertadores. And that clean and jerk was not such because Advíncula’s expulsion was added to by Matheus Henrique’s goal at 9 minutes. On top of that, Figal, who came in to make up for the absence of the Peruvian winger, failed when trying to dribble on the way out and caused the first joy of those from Belo Horizonte.

The Mineirão stadium was on fire and Boca immersed in confusion. The team led by Diego Martínez had the game and the playing field too long. But as always you can be a little worse, Kevin Zenón missed a one-on-one with Cássio and the next action Walace made it 2-0 in a goal full of controversy because the ball seemed to go completely in the previous play that led to the corner.

But hope was awakened in Boca every time he was able to put pressure on the rival defenders, who seemed weak. The Brazilians made a thousand mistakes and Milton Giménez was close to discounting after a personal one. The former Banfield attacker had a prize, who ran them and fought them all. Lema headed down a long ball from Pol Fernández and Giménez scored 2-1 with a nice half turn and with some help from Cássio. That was the second good one of the night for him. Xeneizebecause it was 45 minutes. And the first good sign was a notable save by Sergio Romero from Lautaro Diazwho drew a pirouette in the air that crashed into the stick after Little one he would grope her.

In the second half, Boca was an intelligent and supportive team. He ran and played; He didn’t let Cruzeiro grow. The Mineirão remained silent because the Argentines imposed the conditions. Lema and Rojo did everything, those in the midfield had it and the two up top ran for the applause. Besides, Boca almost tied it at the end after a run by Saracchi and a poor definition by Merentiel when Cássio was already defeated.

Boca endured with his heart. The footballers supported Martínez inside, giving everything they could in each of the plays. Romero saved two impossible ones and that’s why the penalties came.

The feeling that it would be another of Romero’s cup nights was present. But Cruzeiro’s five penalties were executed in a great way. Chiquito didn’t guess any stick, and he stopped at two. Merentiel sent her over the top in the last one. And now the focus will be on Diego Martínez.