It is the academy of happiness. It is a Cylinder full of joy. Is racing the one who celebrates because he jumps to an international final after 32 years. It is Racing that enjoys because for the first time it will play the final of the South American Cup. It is Racing that stands up against Brazilian supremacy in continental team football and eliminates the Corinthians by Ramón Díaz and Memphis Depaand. And it’s all worth it.
Racing earned this pass to the final. For the class and for the decisive goals of Juanfer Quintero. For Gabriel Arias’ crucial saves. For the offensive spirit. For the faith transmitted to him by his iconic coach-fan Gustavo Costas. Now they will go for the crown, on November 23, in Asunción (Paraguay), in the single-match final against Cruzeiro.
That place was achieved by Racing after overcoming a semi-final full of vibrations, both in the 2-2 in Brazil and in this 2-1 in Avellaneda, which was able to overcome an early disadvantage.
The night in which Racing closed the series started out as a dark one because they quickly lost due to a bad start by Gabriel Arias, who left the goal open, facilitating the definition of Yuri Alberto, after a backheel from Memphis Depay. And it could have been worse when the former FC Barcelona player left Rodrigo Garro alone, but this time the goalkeeper redeemed himself and made a great save in the one-on-one match. Another blow, 0-2 down, would have been lethal for Racing.
Memphis was left out of the Copa Sudamericana
In a boiling Cilindro, with pure intensity and a frenetic pace, Racing went for the tie. And he didn’t just balance it. He turned it around with a fast, fresh Juanfer Quintero who was a double scorer, first tying with a penalty and then nailing the second with a left-footed resolution, after a quick lateral brought about by the mischief of a ball boy that allowed Maxi Salas to surprise with the serve for the head of Maravilla Martínez, the man who gave the last pass to the talented Colombian.
Read also
Every time Corinthians responded they were also close to scoring. In fact, between those two goals from Juanfer, Arias again emerged to save another face-to-face with his foot, in this case against Yuri Alberto. He caught the development of the game. Always with sensations of goal in one goal and in another. However, in the second half there were not as many clear chances. Racing ended up controlling the situation and unleashed the party in the Cylinder.
TECHNICAL SHEET
2 – Racing Club: Gabriel Arias Gastón Martirena, Marco Di Cesare, Santiago Sosa, Agustín García Basso, Gabriel Rojas, Juan Fernando Quintero (m.75, Luciano Vietto), Agustín Almendra (m.67, Bruno Zuculini), Juan Nardoni; Maximiliano Salas (m.89, Roger Martínez) and Adrián Martínez (m.90, Santiago Solari).
Coach: Gustavo Costas.
1 – Corinthians: Hugo Souza, Mateuzinho, André Ramalho, Félix Torres, Matheus Bidu; André Carrillo (m.46, Alex Santana), José Martínez (m.67, Ángel Romero), Charles (m.59, Breno Bidon), Rodrigo Garro (m.59, Talles Magno); Memphis Depay (m.77, Igor Coronado) and Yuri Alberto.
Coach: Ramón Díaz.
Goals: 0-1, Yuri Alberto (m. 6); 1-1, Juan Fernando Quintero (penalty, m. 36); 2-1, Juan Fernando Quintero (m. 39)
Referee: Chilean Felipe González Alveal cautioned Agustín García Basso, Félix Torres, Matheus Bidu and Breno Bidon.
Incidents: Second leg match for the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana played at the Estadio Presidente Juan Perón ‘Cilindro de Avellaneda’, in Buenos Aires.
