Intelligence. That’s what she had Central Rosarythe team of that wise man who is Miguel Ángel Russo. Everyone considered the Rosario cast lost because in front of them was the colossus River with his footballers from a European past. But he held on at Canalla without getting behind and reached the penalty shootout. And there, in that mental game that paralyzes everyone, Jorge Fatura Broun He became a legend: they kicked him 4 times and didn’t score any (he saved 3 and Lanzini missed the last one).
Thus, Rosario Central eliminated River and will play the final on Saturday against Platense in Santiago del Estero.
In the previous, Martin Demichelis surprised like the initial formation. The coach had been questioned in recent weeks about the permanence in the starting team of some footballers with poor performances, such as Ignacio Fernández.
And Micho swerved just on the eve of a hot game. Because Nacho’s departure was not the only one: he also marginalized Leandro González Pirez, Rodrigo Aliendro and Santiago Simón, the latter due to the threat that was talked about so much in the previous one, Jaminton Campaz. Coach’s move was also risky: he made the Uruguayan debut on the right side Sebastian Boselli.
River once again stood with a 4-3-1-2, although this time with Facundo Colidio as hitch driver, Esequiel Barco from the interior on the left and Pablo Solari as Salomón Rondón’s partner. He was asking the former Tigre for a clue and quickly showed why. He has class and change of pace Colidio and perhaps one of Demichelis’ most notable mistakes was not finding a place for him sooner. He also brings freshness and can be sharper than the usual midfielders.
Miguel Ángel Russo was not far behind and did something like a young coach: he modified when he observed the tactical moves of the rival coach. The experienced coach sent Campaz to play on the right wing to the astonishment of everyone at Kempes. Of course he castling It was more like a little joke than a decision: after 7 minutes the Colombian settled in his preferred sector.
And River marked Campaz well. Demichelis did something logical by incorporating Boselli as a winger: the order was to score and almost not go on the attack. Núñez’s team usually defends well because he plays hand-in-hand with the opposing defenders and attackers. This time, then, there was one left over and that is why Central hardly botheredbeyond a couple of headers from Facundo Mallo.
River’s circulation was not bad, although it lacked a little more depth. Solari alternated good and bad on his side and Barco missed him in the final pass. The former Independiente is another of those who lost their level. Enzo Perez played a great first half and Nicolas De la Cruz He was the best, despite the discomfort in his right adductor that bothered him throughout the game. The 26-year-old Uruguayan is still the footballer more unbalancing of Argentine football. A distant shot of his was moved to Broun, who managed to put his right hand in. The clearest, however, was a free kick by Barco that hit the crossbar.
River got tired quickly in the second half and the game no longer had the brilliance of the first. Campaz found some spaces to complicate things, but Boselli had a good day. De la Cruz transferred too much and Colidio lost freshness. Also, it must be said, those who entered did not enter well, except for a couple of runs from the Claudio Diablito Echeverri. In this one there are not too many reproaches to make to Demichelis: he put in those he had to put in and the substitutes did not contribute much.
The duel went slowly to the penalty shootout and Central found that scenario more comfortable. River did not know how to defeat Broun and repeated his shots from outside. Núñez’s team lacked tools and there is a reproach that the Córdoba coach can be hanged, who will be under scrutiny until the end of the year.
The surprise in River was the one chosen to kick the first penalty: Enzo Díaz. Lanzini being available, Pete Martínez, Colidio and even Echeverri, the left back did not seem like the best option. It is true that this is written with the result in mind. But Fatura saved the first, Maximiliano Lovera scored his and the series began to move forward for the Rosario team.
Fatura became a hero with the penalties saved against Palavecino and Pity Martínez, who missed just on the day that marked 5 years since the final in Madrid. Armani gave some life by containing Campaz’s shot. But Malcorra did not fail with his left foot and Lanzini threw it over the crossbar.
Central won then, and will go for glory against Platense.