Strengthwith a comeback, won 3-1 against Rosario Central and, in addition to eliminating the Argentine team, advanced to the quarterfinals of the South American Cupa phase in which they will face the also Brazilian Corinthians.
The team led by Argentine Juan Pablo Vojvoda, who had managed a valuable 1-1 draw last week in their visit to Central in the first leg played at the Gigante de Arroyito, won in the return match with goals from Lucas Sasha, Yago Pikachu and Argentine Juan Martín Lucero, scorer of 7 of Fortaleza’s 17 goals in the competition and second highest scorer in the Sudamericana.
Rosario Central had a chance to get their hopes up with a goal from Facundo Mallo at the start of the second half, but they were unable to prevent the Brazilians from making a comeback, and they now have 5 wins and 2 draws in their 8 games this year in the Sudamericana, a tournament in which they were runners-up last year.
Rosario Central players, dejected
The home team launched an attack from the first minute, with shots into the opposing area always looking for Lucero or Yago Pikachu, but it was Rosario Central who had the first clear opportunity, with a free kick that Lovera sent over Joao Ricardo’s goal.
In the first 30 minutes, while studying each other, the two rivals fought for control of the ball in the centre of the pitch and practically did not threaten the opposing goals in a rather rigged match. Fortaleza’s first chance came in the 31st minute when, after an assist from Bruno Pacheco from the left, Lucero received the ball inside the area but was disarmed by Quintana.
The Brazilian team insisted on attacking down the right side with Bruno Lopes but without creating any danger, while the Argentine team tried some approaches with Franco Ibarra, Jonatan Gomez and Enzo Copetti, but also without scaring Joao Ricardo.
Despite Fortaleza having more control of the ball (53%), both teams went into the game without any finishing or direct shots at the opponent’s goal in a first half that was devoid of excitement. The lethargy ended in the second minute of the second half, when, after a free kick by Malcorra, defender Facundo Mallo appeared in the area to push the ball in and open the scoring for Rosario Central.
Fortaleza needed just four minutes to equalise, and Lucero did so after a play by the recently substituted Sasha and an assist from Pikachu. Once again tied, the Brazilians and Argentines limited the match to a dispute in the centre of the pitch with few scoring opportunities.
The duel in the midfield was won by Fortaleza
And in that duel, Fortaleza won, scoring their second goal in the 77th minute, when Yago Pikachu, after an assist from Tinga, invaded the Rosario Central area, eluded his marker and took advantage of Broun’s exit to kick and score. The Brazilian team kept up the pressure and managed to increase the score in the extra minutes when Lucas Sasha headed in a rebound from Broun’s goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
TECHNICAL SHEET
3 – Strength: Joao Ricardo; Tinga, Benjamín Kuscevic, Tomás Cardona, Bruno Pacheco; José Welison (m.45, Hércules), Pedro Augusto (m.45, Lucas Sasha), Tomás Pochettino (m.75, Kervin Andrade); Yago Pikachu, Juan Martín Lucero (m.83, Renato Kayzer) and Breno Lopes (m.75, Moisés).
1 – Rosario Central: Jorge Broun; Emanuel Coronel, Carlos Quintana, Facundo Mallo (m.64, Miguel Angel Barbieri), Agustin Sanchez; Franco Ibarra, Mauricio Martinez, Jonatan Gomez (m.78, Lautaro Giaccone), Victor Ignacio Malcorra (m.57, Agustin Solari), Maximiliano Lovera (m.57, Tomas O’Connor); and Enzo Copetti (m.45, Lucas Martinez Dupuy).
Goals: 0-1, Mallo (m. 47); 1-1, Lucero (d. 51); 2-1, Yago Pikachu (m. 77); 3-1, Lucas Sasha (m. 91)
Referee: Uruguayan Esteban Ostojich gave yellow cards to Fortaleza assistant coach Gastón Liendo and substitute Brítez, as well as Pochettino, Pedro Augusto, Mallo, Pikachu, Kervin Andrade and Ibarra.
Incidents: second leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 played at the Arena Castelão stadium in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza in front of 50,135 spectators.
