Colombian striker Steve Mendoza led this Tuesday the comeback of the Ceara Brazilian, who defeated an Argentine Independiente 2-1 who played inferior from the 12th minute, on the first day of Group G of the South American Cup.
The team he leads Dorival Junior he made good on that soccer maxim of “new coach, sure victory” and added the first three points in the silver tournament of the CONMEBOL, that also serve to put a patch to the irregular start of the season.
It was not easy. Independiente, which is still without fuel after a victory in the last six games of the League Cup from Argentina, He went ahead with a goal from Gastón Togni in the 32nd minute, despite already playing with one less due to the expulsion of central defender Ayrton Costa.
In the second half, mendozafrom a penalty, and Zé Roberto, after a mistake by the Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastián Sosa, turned the score around for Ceará, who saw as his side Nino Paraiba he was sent off in minute 63, three minutes before the comeback goal.
Ceará assumed the leadership of Group G, in the absence of the match that will face Knight General Paraguayan and Venezuelan Deportivo La Guaira. Only the first place goes to eighth.
The intensity marked the start of the game, so much so that at 12 minutes Coast He went to the showers due to a double warning.
The Ceara, despite their numerical superiority, failed to reach the rival area clearly. Only Mendoza looked out from the left flank of the battered lawn of the Castelao de Fortaleza Arena.
And while the Brazilians thought about how to harm the team Countersunkcame the blow of Togni.
The play of the goal began with a solo adventure of Roawho was dodging rivals in the midfield until, after a yours-mine with some footballers from the Cearathe ball ended up in the boots of Leandro Benegas.
The Argentine nationalized Chilean attacker put a deep pass to Togni, which he defined with a low cross shot.
The fans, enraged and without patience after a bad start to the season, began to sing against their team.
In the second part, everything changed. The Ceara He came out with a different attitude. He was bound to vindicate himself and mendoza He accepted the challenge by equalizing in the 61st minute from a penalty caused by an unfortunate handball in the Independiente area.
Nino Paraiba seemed to cool things down by receiving the second yellow card in the 63rd minute.
Now it was 10 against 10 with half an hour to go. However, luck smiled on the Brazilians, who found it 2-1 through Ze Robertowho had come off the bench and took advantage of Sebastián Sosa’s poor start from a corner in the 66th minute.
On the next day, Independiente will receive General Caballero and Ceará will play at home against Sports La Guaira.
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