2024-09-24 12:20:00
With two goals from Braian Romero, Vélez consolidated its position as the firm leader of the Professional League with a fair 2-0 victory over Estudiantes, in a duel in which it showed the different facets that took it to the top: it played very well when it could, it had high-level individualities, it held firm when attacked and, with the opportunism of its goalscorer, it finished the match as soon as it had the opportunity. Thus it justified a victory that gave it a six-point advantage over its three runners-up, Huracán, Talleres and Unión.
From the start, Vélez’s ambitions were clear, as they came out determined to take down an Estudiantes side that seemed to wait for the game to play out. And that difference in attitude was quickly reflected on the scoreboard, after Braian Romero put pressure on Mansilla and stole the ball from him at the edge of the six-yard box.
Not even the goal changed the intentions, which continued to show an ambitious Vélez against a passive and surprised Estudiantes. The chances for the home team continued, but the right post prevented the goal twice, first from a backheel by Pizzini and then from a free kick by Aquino.
Outclassed in every sector of the pitch, Estudiantes’ best result was that they were just one goal ahead. They could have done even better at the end of the first half, when they could have equalised twice: firstly after a Carrillo header that Marchiori saved and then after a luxurious finish by Piatti that Valentín Gómez cleared off the line.
Estudiantes’ good finish continued in the second half, with a better attitude from the midfielders and a defence that stood up more forward. Thus, they took more risks in the back, but equalised the fight in the middle and worried the Velez defence more. Then the duel became more interesting, because it maintained the intensity, but it was back and forth, with chances in front of both goals.
As the minutes went by, Vélez fell back and let Estudiantes control the ball, waiting to take advantage of counterattacking opportunities. And although it had some scares and relied on Marchiori’s firmness, when it had the chance it did not waste it: Lollo passed badly and Pizzini stole it to assist Romero, who calmly defined to seal the 2-0 and unleash the party in Liniers, which is increasingly excited about a victory lap that seems to get closer game by game.