Vélez (9 points), in Ricardo Gareca’s debut as coach, tied 1-1 tonight with Platense (7), in a match corresponding to the 7th. date of the Professional League tournament (LPF).
In a José Amalfitani stadium that lived a day of emotions due to the return of the idol to the relay bench, an equality was registered in a flat game, with few goal situations in front of the goals.
Liniers’ team was ahead at 41m. of the first half, through the mediation of striker Abiel Osorio, who corrected a shot by Valentín Gómez that bounced off an opponent.
The group led by Martín Palermo, located in the relegation zone, established equality in the second stage, through a shot by Nicolás Castro (16m.), which hit Lautaro Giannetti’s body and dislodged goalkeeper Leonardo Burián.
Gareca’s second cycle as DT, ten years after the successful first period endedseemed to start with enthusiasm.
It is that the team stood on rival ground, pressed forward and sought to unbalance on the wings. At 3m, a pike from the left by Walter Bou (he entered the starting line-up at the last moment due to a problem that Lucas Janson accused) led to a cross on the run that was connected by Lucas Pratto, who sent it into the net. However, the referee Darío Herrera later annulled the maneuver, at the request of the VAR, due to the prohibited position of the former player of Gimnasia La Plata and Defensa y Justicia.
The ‘Fortin’ continued to insist, without clarity, it is true, but with the iron will to overwhelm a timorous Platense who arrived with various casualties due to injuries.
A shot from Bou from outside, a header from Giannetti and a tackle from Pratto that Macagno covered marked the pulse of a match that had the locals dominating.
Vicente López’s team could barely get close with a volley from Ignacio Vázquez that Burián blocked after a corner kick.
The excitement in the stands turned into delirium at 41m, when Gómez (who could have been sent off due to a kick on the Paraguayan Ronald Martínez) ventured from the left and finished off the goal. There was a rebound, the ball rose and the kid Osorio (9 goals in 50 games) jumped before the rival defenders to place the ball, far from the visiting goalkeeper’s reach.
In the second period, then, with the advantage in his favor, Vélez gave priority to keeping the difference and leaned -perhaps unconsciously- too far back.
The ‘brown’ team, which had the entry of Ignacio Schor (he returned after a shoulder injury), gained in dynamics, but it was difficult for them to translate that better performance into risky situations.
Until at 16m, the midfielder Castro tested the goal from 30 meters, the ball deflected in Giannetti and dislodged Burián to become the final 1-1.
From there until the end, Vélez could not solve the equation of an opponent who closed ranks and reduced spaces to take the point.
Beyond the income of the kids Lobato and Prestianni, the ‘Flaco’ Gareca team lacked fluidity to convert the unevenness.
