Mouth last night achieved an important 1-0 victory against Cruzeiro in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. The only goal of the match was scored by Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani, who once again demonstrated his quality and ability to define in crucial moments.
From the beginning, Mouth The team showed an offensive attitude, but also showed some weaknesses in its collective game. During the first 45 minutes, the team led by Diego Martínez was imprecise and lacking fluidity, which allowed Cruzeiro to feel comfortable and control the pace of the game.
The first half of the match was quite close, with few clear scoring opportunities for either team. Mouthwithout the presence of Equi Fernández, recently transferred to a club in Saudi Arabia, and with a Kevin Zenón who failed to stand out, could not generate real danger in the goal defended by Cássio.
Boca’s defense also showed some weaknesses, with disconnections that allowed Cruzeiro to get close to Sergio Romero’s area. The second half brought a change of attitude in MouthThe entry of Agustín Martegani for Jabes Saralegui gave the team a little more clarity in the midfield.
However, it was Kevin Zenón who, despite his poor performance in the first half, became the mastermind behind the winning goal. At 20 minutes into the second half, Zenón made a great individual play and assisted Edinson Cavani, who did not waste the opportunity and sent the ball into the back of the net with a precise shot..
This goal not only gave Boca the lead, but also demonstrated the importance of having a striker of Cavani’s quality at decisive moments. Despite the victory, it was clear that Boca needs to be more complete if they want to advance in the Copa Sudamericana.
Two faces
The team showed two very different faces in each half: a listless first half, lacking ideas, and a more dynamic and effective second half. This inconsistency can be dangerous in a competition as demanding as the Sudamericana.
Coach Diego Martinez will have to work on several aspects to improve the team’s performance. Firstly, it is crucial that Mouth find greater fluidity in your collective game. The lack of precision in passing and the inability to maintain possession of the ball were evident at various stages of the match.
