2024-08-12 12:16:03
The Independiente hooligans who went to the Villa Domínico grounds last Friday to talk to the team’s leaders must surely believe that the team’s victory in La Plata is related to this pressure. “We won’t talk about it next time,” they had said as a warning. And in reality what happened was that El Rojo found himself up against a rival that played way below its possibilities; that gave advantages in plays that are usually its strong point and that showed its impotence in reversing adverse situations.
From less to more in the match, with tranquility at the end, Vaccari’s team achieved an unquestionable victory.
Two headers after two corners were enough for Independiente to leave La Plata with three points in their pocket and a smile on their lips.
The visitors took the lead in the 34th minute with a header from debutant Kevin Lomónaco after a corner. The corner kicks had been until then (three for each) the instances in which one could most think that the zero was not unbreakable. Lucas González was successful in the center and Lomónaco was even more successful by putting his head before his marker, Lollo, to beat Mansilla.
The goalkeeper had made a good save earlier, on a shot by Ávalos from a very tight angle. On the other hand, Rey had only had a couple of stumbles in those initial 45 minutes in which Estudiantes created some plays that hinted at a lot, but invariably ended in nothing.
At the start of the second half another corner, another good cross from Gonzáez and an excellent header with the right parietal from Ávalos settled the matter.
Estudiantes finished the match with 10 players after Ascacíbar was sent off, in one of the weakest performances in recent times.
A victory would have allowed them to get into the lead; the defeat left them full of doubts.