All eyes on Falcao in his debut with Millonarios

In front of 22,839 spectators Radamel Falcao García fulfilled his dream this Thursday by debuting with Millionaires in an official match against the DIM which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín, where he was able to feel the affection of the people on the first date of the Colombian league.

All eyes were on the Colombian national team’s all-time top scorer and there were few moments in which he was treated like a rival in a stadium painted red, where he received the first gesture of affection after the pre-match warm-up when applause rained down from the stands and he responded with a greeting.

When the teams took to the field and the ‘Tiger’ headed to the substitutes’ bench, they asked him for a couple of photos before the start of the match, which did not start in favor of the ambassador team because the best opportunities were for the Poderoso until Brayan León opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when he beat goalkeeper Iván Arboleda.

With the score at 1-0, coach Alberto Gamero took action. Falcao began warming up with his teammate Daniel Mantilla, while the rest of the group was in the locker room. This was another opportunity to applaud the idol of thousands of Colombians for his memorable performances with the Tricolor and the career he built during his time in European football.

The electronic board went up and the ovation came. The fans of Deportivo Independiente Medellín (DIM) surrendered to the goalscorer seconds before the restart when he came on for midfielder Daniel Giraldo, in a bid to come back and give García a good start to his career in the football of his country.

He had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he received the first “caresses” from his rivals to avoid problems with the man who was once considered the best “9” in the world, who closed his career in Europe with Rayo Vallecano.

Between Medellín’s center backs José Ortiz and Fainer Torijano they kept him under control, but he managed to appear in the 52nd minute with a shot practically from the penalty spot to force goalkeeper Eder Chaux to take advantage of the play in a play that gave relief to DIM, led by Uruguayan coach Alfredo Arias, when the flag was raised to invalidate the action.

Afterwards it became more difficult for him to get in touch with the ball, so he moved back a few metres to join up with Mantilla and Leonardo Castro, his attacking formula, but it was not easy for them because they came up against a combative squad, with arguments and who looked better than the white and blue team.

He constantly looked for the finish

When there was a dead ball, Falcao exchanged words with David Mackalister Silva, the taker, and sent signals for them to look for the header, one of their best weapons. The takers lacked aim, as did the players who tried to serve from the wing with the intention of making Tigre roar.

The former Rayo Vallecano player found it difficult to have the prominence he was used to, especially because it was not a good match for his team and there was no player to feed him and put him one-on-one. However, he did not stop moving and floating in other areas looking for an opportunity, but he was barely able to fight for a ball from above after a cross from Danovis Banguero.

Argentine Santiago Giordana came through with a goal in the last minute to equalise the match and save a night for the history books with the realisation of Falcao’s dream, who returned to his country 24 years after playing with Lanceros in the second division at just 13 years of age.

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He did not score in his first match in the Colombian league, but he did not leave the Atanasio Girardot defeated, where some fans jumped onto the pitch after the end and signs were seen with messages such as ‘Falcao, you are my idol; can I have your shirt?’.