Independiente beat Vélez 2-0 on Thursday night and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Copa Argentina, based on a great production, especially in the first half, and with a result that perhaps could have been more bulky.
The goals for Avellaneda’s team were converted at 12 minutes by Leandro Fernández in the first half, and by Leandro Banegas at 10′ of the complement.
Tonight’s was the second presentation of the team led by Julio César Falcioni in the “Tacita de Plata”, since the previous phase left Atlético Tucumán on the road.
Independiente, who thus prolonged his good footballing moment, will be measured in the next instance of the federal contest with Talleres, from Córdoba.
The first half had a clear domain of Independiente who was incisive in each incursion into the area but also knew how to handle the ball with discretion, generating a permanent danger in the goal of Leonardo Burián, who had a lot of work in this stage.
Avellaneda’s team was dynamic and took Vélez ahead that it cost him a lot to get hold of the ball and practically his strikers Lucas Pratto and Abiel Osorio did not worry, in addition to being well controlled by the red’s defense.
The goal came with a shot by Leandro Fernández, the best player of the match, who measured the distance to take a low shot and the ball hit the base of the post due to the goalkeeper’s late reaction.
Then Julio Falcioni’s men had several chances to increase, mostly wasted by Banegas, first with a header that Burián took to the corner (16′), then his shot missed after a dribble to the defense (19′) and finally with a new header after a cross from Damián Batallini that went just over the crossbar (29′).
In the second half, Vélez tried to take center stage in the match, trying to circulate the ball more, and for this, coach Alexander Medina made three changes that gave him mixed results, since he divided the ball more with his rival but did not finish find the way to the goal.
Those of Liniers never finished adapting to the proposal that his coach wanted, and the few attempts he generated were mostly unproductive centers.
Independiente didn’t get much in the second half but it was convincing to increase the score with a goal by Leandro Banegas who wanted to send an assist and Leandro Fernández curtained the goalkeeper and the ball went into the goal.
Perhaps the discount could have been given with the chance at the end of the match: a shot in the area by midfielder Luca Orellano required goalkeeper Milton Álvarez, who took it out with his fists outside, and towards the end, a shot this time from Walter Bou. had the same response from the goalkeeper.
Faced with Vélez’s intention of wanting to take possession of the ball and the urgency to discount, Avellaneda’s team never lost order and there was the key to victory, which was deserved against a team that looked solid and another that was not at the height.
