Four penalties. To the left and to the right. With reflexes and agility. With a vindictive task because he was responsible for the tying goal that led to this definition. Leandro Brey put the team on his shoulder. Or between your hands, of course. And he ended up being the figure of the first great success of Fernando Gago. Boca he should have beaten in the nineties La Plata Gymnasticsbut ended up clinging to his young goalkeeper, replacement for the questioned Sergio Romeronothing less. AND qualified for the semi-finals of the Argentine Cupinstance in which you wait Velezchampionship leader. I needed it to face this process that has just begun with an important emotional boost.
The debut was so disappointing that Gago needed to make changes. Of names, of course. But also, of scheme. And if there is something that the coach learned, it is that his idea, no matter how convinced he is, must adapt to the team he has. In that sense, he understood that the 4-3-3 was not possible if he wanted to play with Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani, two center forwards. Then, he planted a 4-2-3-1, the pattern with which he ended up directing Chivas, with the players in their natural positions.
The Uruguayans shared the poster, but Cavani was the reference and his compatriot dropped a few meters further back. Unlike the match against Tigre in Victoria, where he played on the left, almost as a winger, in the midfield position and more centered, he connected much more with the game. Although the difference was made by the wingers, Brain Aguirre and -especially- Exequiel Zeballos.
He Changuito He was unstoppable every time he faced. He started on the right, taking advantage of his better profile, and posed many difficulties for Rodrigo Gallo. Also, to Norberto Briascowho had to go back to collaborate on the brand. There was also interesting work from the sides. Although they climbed in several attacks, they usually close to allow the ends to overflow.
Behind them, Ignacio Miramon he felt freer to play with Thomas Belmonte in a double five that covered the spaces well, which he recovered and was good opposition for the La Plata midfielders.
The goal came quickly. It was from a stopped ball executed by Aguirre. A rejection came from the area, Zeballos enabled Advíncula and the Peruvian hit a cross for Aaron Anselmino, who arrived free and headed towards the goal. Marcos Ledesma cushioned, but did not block the shot of the kid from Pampas who will play for Chelsea.
Boca was direct, he didn’t accumulate as many passes. And he almost scored the second with a Cavani free kick just wide.
Gimnasia, meanwhile, presented a 4-3-3 in which they stood out on the wings. In the middle he handled the ball with Augusto Max or Enzo Martínez and opened the game for Matías Abaldo on the right or Briasco on the left. At times, it went deeper. However, he never worried Leandro Brey, who replaced the questioned Sergio Romero. There were centers from the sides that ended in rejections by the Xeneizes defenders or went astray.
Boca was always closer. In the end, Merentiel played a front and pump pass for Zeballos, but Ledesma saved in time. On the rebound, Changuito scored a goal and the goalkeeper blocked it again.
The second half was delayed due to the incidents in the stands and when it started, after the worries, Boca came in with two changes that denounced intentions. Despite his good level, Aguirre gave way to Kevin Zenón and Zeballos moved to the left. Marcelo Saracchi also entered for Blanco, position by position.
and he Changuito He took off down the other lift. From his overflow and the center behind, Boca could have shouted the second goal. However, Cavani attacked and with the goal free, he burst the crossbar. It was an unbeatable possibility for the Uruguayan.
Then, Marcelo Méndez moved the bench. And Pablo De Blasis and David Salazar came in very well. A steering wheel with handling and a fast forward. But Boca had Gimnasia on the ropes. If it weren’t for a great save by Ledesma – from a left-footed shot by Saracchi – he would have finished him off at that moment.
Until a corner kick came, Salazar executed and Brey, who until that moment had shown confidence, missed in the sky of the area. The ball surpassed him and bounced off Rojo, besieged by De Blasis. The goal against gave Gimnasia the tie.
Gago was disconcerting with the changes. He took out Zeballos, the sharpest one, and Milton Giménez entered. Cavani was no longer there, replaced by Pol Fernández. Later, Nicolás Figal entered and Advíncula was installed as a midfielder.
Boca cornered Gimnasia, but failed in the area. And in the end, Baliño’s arbitration was stainedwho spared the lives of Castro, Garayalde – he injured Zenón – and Pol Fernández. The referee’s task was embarrassing.
And the penalties arrived. And Brey appeared in all his dimension. Even when Merentiel and Giménez missed, the goalkeeper became a hero and Boca lived a night of happiness after so many hardships.