The penultimate additional minute is played. Almost nothing remains. A visiting player, Godoy CruzJuan Bautista Cejas takes a beautiful left foot shot from outside the area. The ball seems to travel straight to the goal. Sergio Romero just watches. La Bombonera remains silent because if that destiny that is sensed materializes, everything will end in a brutal, painful elimination. But… The ball hits the crossbar.
And then it’s victory Mouth. And it is an agonizing, long-suffering qualification to the League Cup playoffs. And it is also the passport to a Superclásico that is imagined to be exciting. Because now, in the quarterfinals, Boca will meet River. Good action is coming in Argentine football.
“We almost missed the last one. It was to kill oneself,” declared Marcos Rojo with pure sincerity. And yes… It could have been a catastrophe for this new Boca of Diego Martínez. It could have meant the second consecutive elimination from the League Cup in the qualifying phase. But it wasn’t because of that magical crossbar and also because of Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan made that 1-0 victory against Godoy Cruz extremely necessary, because with the tie the Xeneizes were left out.
Kevin Zenón drives the ball during the match against Godoy Cruz
Cavani did not hesitate in the face of a cross from Luis Advíncula and crossed the ball with his left foot, leaving goalkeeper Franco Petroli with no chance. It was the cry of the classification that Boca hit, a Boca that played an hour with one man less due to the expulsion of Cristian Medina at 31 minutes into the first half. The Xeneizes showed a quick reaction by being left with one less because the Uruguayan’s celebration immediately came.
Boca, winning and at a numerical disadvantage, tried not to get behind. There was only a protection signal with 10 minutes remaining, when Diego Martínez took out Cavani and added a fifth defender, Jorge Figal.
Racing beat Belgrano but was left out
Boca’s victory came in a dramatic definition. The day before it had happened with Zone A. This Tuesday it happened with Zone B. Another great, Racing, beat Belgrano 4-0 in Córdoba. Maxi Salas, Adrián Martínez, Roger Martínez and Baltasar Rodríguez scored, but it was not enough for the Academy. I needed the complicity of other results that did not come. And now Gustavo Costas’ team will watch on television.
Godoy Cruz was already classified. Boca joined in. And Estudiantes were added (they turned Lanús around with two goals from Guido Carrillo that allowed them to establish a 2-1) and Defensa y Justicia (they beat Newell’s 1-0 with a goal from Santiago Ramos).
With these results, the eight are now qualified for the playoffs, which will be played this weekend on a neutral field, with a single game and with fans of both teams. The days and stages have not yet been determined. On one side of the tie Godoy Cruz – Vélez and Argentinos – Defensa y Justicia will meet; on the other, Estudiantes – Barracas Central and River – Boca. Of course, there are no doubts: only the Superclásico will be talked about.
