Racing hits first

Racing Clubin force champion of the South American Cupit was imposed this Thursday by 2-0 Botafogoholder of the Copa Libertadores 2024, in the first leg for the Collect South American Disputed before a Stadium President Perón ‘Cylinder’ by Avellaneda groaned with more than 52,000 people.

With goals from Luciano Vietto, penalty, (m.30) and Adrián ‘Maravilla’ Martínez (m.62), the ‘Academy’ achieved an important advantage for the revenge next Thursday at the Nilton Santos stadium, in Río from Janeiro.

The team led by Gustavo Costas began with a firm foot and with the serious intention of taking its rival ahead with a lethal offensive duo composed of Adrián ‘Maravilla’ Martínez and Maximiliano Salas. However, Botafogo’s defenses resisted the initial attacks of the local team, which was promoted by its audience.

After two accurate goal shares with lack of aim at the 30th minute a front shot fell in the area and Alexander Barboza used Adrián ‘Wonder’ Martínez. The referee, at the request of the VAR, sanctioned penalty and Lucano Vietto did not fail in the definition with a cross shot that was impossible to pray for John Victor.

Then, the author of the goal had to be replaced by a muscle injury and Matías Zaracho entered, in a final stretch of the first half that kept Racing as a wide dominator. In the resumption, the best of Botafogo was seen, which had two actions with Igor Jesus as the protagonist but in the 62nd minute he received a knockout blow in a backlash that made a wall with rooms for Martínez, which marked 2-0.

Racing had three clear options to increase and Botafogo felt the rhythm of the game and the large amount of casualties he suffered from his consecration in the Copa Libertadores to the present. In addition, the Botafogo despaired and ended with 10 men for the expulsion with direct red of Cuiabano at 89 minutes (he had entered just eleven minutes before) for kicking him in the face of a rival while he was on the floor.

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The second leg will be next Thursday in Rio de Janeiro and the winner of the series will be crowned as the winner of the South American Recopa.

Technical file

2 – Racing Club: Gabriel Arias; Marco Di Cesare, Nazareno Colombo, Santiago Quirós; Gastón Martyrena, Juan Nardoni, Bruno Zuculini, Gabriel Rojas; Luciano Vietto (m.36, Matías Zaracho), Adrián Martínez, Maximiliano Salas (m.89, Ignacio Rodríguez).
Coach: Gustavo Costas.
0 – Botafogo: John Victor; Vitinho, Danilo Barbosa, Alexander Barboza, Alex Telles; Newton, Allan (m.59, Rwan Cruz), Marlon Freitas; Jefferson Savarino (m.88, Kaué), Igor Jesus, Matheus Martins (m.76, Cuiabano).
Coach: Curúdio Caçapa.
Goals: 1-0, Luciano Vietto, penalty (m. 30); 2-0, Adrián Martínez (m. 62)
Referee: Chilean Felipe González expelled Cuiabano (m.89) and admonished Marco Di Césare, Bruno Zuculini, Juan Nardoni, Gastón Martinena, Alexander Barboza, Danilo Barbosa, Newton and Rwan Cruz.
Incidents: First leg for the South American Recoba played at the President Perón stadium, the ‘Cylinder’, in the city of Avellaneda, before 52 thousand people.