There were no surprises. And the two best teams in the regular phase of the Metropolitan men’s hockey tournament will define the title on Saturday. Number 1 and his escort arrived. In different ways, it is true. But both deserved to keep the two tickets that led to the definition at the Pinazo de Belgrano headquarters. In the first round, Banco Provincia had to suffer even penalties to account for the brave Ducilo. Then, San Fernando A took their place by beating Ciudad A in regulation time.
San Fernando A was the best in the first phase with a great distance over its opponents, which earned it an early qualification for the playoffs. On the other hand, City A achieved its place in the semifinals for the first time after five years of a long wait for a club with so much tradition in Buenos Aires hockey. It was for San Fernando A that they were able to break the stigma of semis and advance to the final after a three-season hiatus.
Ignacio Bergner’s team started better and took center stage from the beginning. He forced his opponent to defend himself near his circle and Doubouloy to be very attentive to avoid the fall of his bow. The penetrations into the circle were repeated and thus the winner had the clearest in that furious start. But with five minutes left in the second quarter, Capurro put together a huge individual play and City A was about to take the lead.
In the second half and after the 0-0 score in the first 30 minutes, the tension remained in the air. They both knew that a mistake could be decisive in the game. San Fernando A continued to be more incisive with the ball in their possession while Carlos Geneyro’s team looked for a counterattack. At 10 minutes into the third quarter, Beccar Varela’s first two interventions came in San Fernando’s goal after two backhand shots from Lorito and Capurro. Sure, the archer responded very well. However, when everything seemed like they would reach the last quarter evenly matched, Matías Rey appeared after 13 minutes. Saliva connected with the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic champion who eluded two players and when he shot as soon as he entered the area, the deflection off an opponent caused the ball to hit Doubouloy’s humanity.
In that way San Fernando A went 1-0. Forced by the disadvantage, City A bet everything on the winner. Capurro had his chance in the 20th minute but his backhand went just wide. On the other side, Aguirregomezcorta had two clear opportunities, but the forward could not score. In any case, one minute from the end and with the goal free because the opponent had taken out their goalkeeper to have one more field player, Marco Aguirregomezcorta, after an assist from Rey, the figure on the field, established the 2 to 0 definitive so that the joy would be all of San Fernando A.
Before, it had been Banco Provincia’s moment in a very balanced match. In any case, at the start, although he lacked goals, he had plenty of emotions. The game began as a back-and-forth game and a penalty corner was followed by another penalty corner. Although none of them could make a difference on the scoreboard. Because? Because defensively, both Ignacio Ortiz’s team (the one that conceded the fewest goals in the regular phase) and Ducilo (the highest scorer) knew that they had to be very attentive. And so they were. Like when Navarro defended a goal from Pablo Moreira’s team in a brilliant finish by the first pitcher. But the game, it was clear, could be for anyone.
The nerves and tension increased and the cards began to appear for both sides in the second half. It was known that the difference would be in the details. The good block of Banco Provincia complicated Ducilo, who was unable to find precision in his attacks. And Banco Provincia’s patience was rewarded after 3 minutes when Iñaki Minadeo, with a strong hold on the board, made it 1-0.
In the last 15 minutes everything was back and forth. Between Ducilo’s search for a tie and Banco Provincia’s intention to play on the counterattack, the midfield became “no man’s land.” Berazategui’s team, in any case, had a hard time connecting offensively beyond the imbalance that their midfielders caused in the middle of the field while their opponent, beyond the very good game of Navarro and Toscani, failed to close the plays in the rival area. Between the two coming and going, Ducilo forced a short and Machelett’s drag hit Minadeo’s body.
After consulting with the video ref, six minutes from the end the good Tobías Martins, from a penalty, made it 1 to 1, a result with which they reached the Australian penalties. There the imbalance arrived precisely when Suárez Pino saved Machelett’s goal. It was the penalty of joy for Banco Provincia. And the disappointment for Ducilo.