Real Cartagena lost to Llaneros, 2-1, at the Jaime Morón León stadium. This match was part of the 5th round of the Betplay Tournament. The goal for the Cartagena team was scored by Jairo Ditta, and with this result, the team registered its second defeat in the competition.
Real Cartagena started the game with an offensive approach. The players under Alberto Suárez created a great play involving Christian Marrugo, Michael Covea, and Juan José Salcedo. The historic scorer shot with his right foot, but goalkeeper Kevin Armesto saved it, preventing a 1-0 lead for the home team in the 3rd minute.
The offensive play didn’t stop there. Two minutes later, a mistake in the visitors’ midfield led to a clear opportunity for the home team. Covea took the lead and passed to Juan José Salcedo, but his shot was again stopped by Armesto, who was tested by ‘Pitillo’s’ strike. Suárez’s team continued to search for the opposing area.
The ‘auriverdes’ took the lead in the 10th minute. Jairo Ditta received the ball after a shot from Wilfrido De la Rosa that the visiting defense failed to clear. Ditta took advantage and beat Armesto to make it 1-0 at the Jaime Morón León stadium.
The team led by Martín Cardetti began to build their game. Llaneros strengthened their play in midfield, and after a corner kick in the 18th minute, Federico Arbeláez capitalized on a lapse from the heroic defense and beat goalkeeper Christian Arroyave. 1-1.
The game turned more in favor of the Villavicencio team. Cardetti’s players nearly took the lead thanks to an individual effort from Brayan Ureña. The player switched directions, and Neider Ospina centered for Emanuel Zagert, who failed to direct the ball on target, keeping the score 1-1 at that moment.
Real Cartagena tried to respond with individual plays from Michael Covea and Christian Marrugo. However, they seemed disconnected from Juan José Salcedo, who had few opportunities against the visitors’ defense. ‘Pitillo’ was neutralized by the game plan that Cardetti implemented.
In the last action of the first half, Diego Ossio passed a ball to Michael Covea. The Venezuelan connection resulted in a rebound off the goal line. With this clear chance, the half ended with a score of 1-1.
The second half began with pressure from the Cartagena team. Jairo Ditta skillfully evaded a Llaneros player but was left with no angle, and his shot went wide of Kevin Armesto’s goal. In the 9th minute, Marrugo dangerously crossed into the visitor’s area, but the double header ended far from the Llaneros’ goal, which continued to escape.
11 minutes later, Christian Camilo Marrugo made a lobbed pass to Wilfrido De la Rosa, but the striker attempted a scissors kick, and the ball went far from Kevin Armesto. The clearest chance of the second half came in the 34th minute of the second half.
Christian Marrugo filtered a ball to Wilfrido De La Rosa. The Real Cartagena forward failed to connect properly with the ball, and it grazed the post of Kevin Armesto. The actions continued to unfold with the score still 1-1.
A rare incident occurred in the match. Alberto Suárez was about to make a substitution, but captain Christian Marrugo stopped the change and expressed his dissatisfaction to the coaching staff. The moment was tense and left the fans feeling disgruntled, who supported the ‘Capitan Cartagena.’
Martín Cardetti’s team secured victory with a goal from Juan Fernando Caicedo. The veteran striker took advantage of a mistake by the ‘Auriverde’ defense during a corner kick and scored to make it 1-2. With nothing more to add, the match ended at home.
Real Cartagena will play its next match against Boca Juniors from Cali on Wednesday, August 21, at 3:00 p.m. The actions will take place at the Palmaseca stadium of Deportivo Cali.
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