The Argentina under-20 teamtrained by the former FC Barcelona player Javier Mascheranoachieved a resounding victory in the final against Uruguay (4-0) and lifted for the third time in history the champion trophy of the COTIF.
Mascherano’s team, which has gone from less to more in the tournament, managed to impose its punch against a willing Uruguayan team, which conceded goals in the first minutes of each half and also wasted a penalty in the second period that would have allowed to get hooked on the match.
Uruguay started the classic with force. The team led by Marcelo Broli pressed hard for Argentina to get the ball out, preventing them from feeling comfortable in the first few minutes.
However, Mascherano’s group hit hard the first time they were able to enjoy space. A free kick from Uruguay triggered a quick counter-attack from Aguirre, who passed the ball to Giay to beat Randall Jones’s goal with a shot close to the post.
The goal disconcerted Uruguay and gave Argentina poise, although Di Lollo had to work hard in a great defensive action to cover a shot by Renzo Sánchez.
Argentina, much more lethal in attack, had the second in a great personal action by Maestro Puch, but the striker, after breaking the defense due to speed, could not finish the action with precision and shot too cross.
Uruguay took control of the game and insistently searched for the bands to reach the area with danger. Broli’s team had their great opportunity in discount time when the referee interpreted a clearance by Barco at the hands of Gomes as a transfer.
The indirect free kick, signaled just three meters from the goal line, caused a shower of cards in the Argentine team, but Matturro’s shot ended up crashing into the back of a defender.
Uruguay, without reaction capacity
Uruguay wanted to take a step forward in the second half with the entry of Ferrari and Franco González, but Argentina struck again, now from a set piece, through Maestro Puch, who used his centimeters to head the ball to the net.
The second goal was already too much for Uruguay and allowed Mascherano’s team to manage the game as they pleased. However, a clear penalty from Barco on Ferrari, a quarter of an hour from the end, gave Uruguay the chance to get back into the match, but Gomes Gerth saved the Uruguayan attacker’s shot.
The goalkeeper’s save was the finishing touch for Uruguay, which soon after conceded another goal, scored by Aguirre, who saw his great game rewarded. Already in the last moments, Lautaro Ovando rounded off the victory with a penalty goal committed against himself.
DATA SHEET
4-Argentina: Gomes Gerth, Di Lollo, Barco (Brian Aguilar, d. 87), Giay, Gauto, Agustín Rodríguez (Seoane, d. 70), Nicolás Paz, Aguirre (Lautaro Ovando, d. 87), Marco, Lautaro López and Maestro Puch (Nauel Genez, d. 87)
0-Uruguay: Randall Jones, Boselli (Urrutia, m. 55), Matturro, Ferreira, De Ritiss, Renzo Sánchez (Franco González, m. 52), Bernal, De los Santos (Ferrari, m. 52), Sosa (Damián García, m. 55), Rodrigo Sebastian and Emiliano Rodriguez
Referee: Anthony Rodriguez. He showed a yellow card to Aguirre, Maestro Puch, Marco, Lautaro Ovando, Barco and Agustín Rodríguez for Argentina, and to Sergio García for Uruguay
Goals: 1-0, Giay (m. 8); 2-0, Master Puch (m. 54); 3-0, Aguirre (m. 74); 4-0, Lautaro Ovando, penalty (m. 79)
Incidents: Final of the COTIF tournament played at the Els Arcs stadium
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