15 years ago Mouth does not win the Libertadores Cup, who does not raise that Cup that obsesses him. He was now in a difficult situation in the group zone. He couldn’t lose against Always Ready from Bolivia. A defeat was lethal. On top of that, the height appeared as an obstacle rather than a threat. However, in that complicated atmosphere, the xeneizes still breathed. Of course, everything came wrapped in controversy.
In La Paz, at 3,600 meters above sea level, there is a lack of oxygen. The teams that arrive from the plain suffer. Locals often express that geographical nuance. Boca showed authority, sought victory, generated some clear situations and controlled the situation quite a bit. Everything is as real as he also lowered his level in some passages and ended up winning with an invented penalty.
Arnaldo Giménez, goalkeeper of Always Ready, did not go around in circles: “Today you can’t talk about soccer. That the referees stop screwing around. Stop helping the big teams and let the boys compete. It was a gift for Boca. This victory belongs to the referee. You have to congratulate him. It’s a shame that these things happen.”
The anger was because the penalty that defined the match, converted by Eduardo Salvio, came after a non-existent offense against Toto himself. The Always Ready goalkeeper arrived before the Boca striker and took the ball from him. It was not a foul in any way, but the Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega charged it. Since there is no VAR in the first round of the Libertadores, the Bolivian anger was greater.
There was another rare situation, but extra soccer. The Bolivian police entered the referees’ locker room and confiscated bags with several xeneizes shirts. In Conmebol matches, contact with the judges is prohibited… An ideal episode for ill-intentioned and conniving. Always Ready denounced that “they were gifts from Boca for the referees.”
Beyond all the strange nuances, it was a round night for Boca. It is that he positioned himself very well in Group E. With his victory he placed second with 6 points, taking advantage of the fact that the leader Corinthians (7) tied 0-0 in Colombia, against the third Deportivo Cali (5). Always Ready was last with 4. Two dates are missing and the first two of each zone qualify.
Colón prevails in Santa Fe and becomes leader
It was also a good day for the other Argentines who played in the Libertadores. With goals from Facundo Farías and Cristian Bernardi, Colón defeated Cerro Porteño of Paraguay 2-1 in Santa Fe, who discounted via Marcelo Moreno Martins. Now Colón is leader of Group H along with Cerro Porteño, both with 7 points. Olimpia from Paraguay has 5 and Peñarol from Uruguay 3.
While Talleres at the Mario Kempes stadium tied 2-2 with the very difficult Flamengo. The Cordovans won it twice with goals from Willian Arao (against) and Michael Santos. The Cariocas tied it through Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Pedro. In Group H, Flamengo leads with 10 points, Talleres follows with 7, Universidad Católica de Chile has 4 and Sporting Cristal closes with 1.
Today, in the Copa Libertadores, River will seek qualification in their visit to Fortaleza while Vélez will also play his last chance in Brazil, in this case against Bragantino.
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