The difference in hierarchy does not always translate into results. It happened to them, in this same Argentine Cup, to Defensa y Justicia, Lanús, Belgrano and Sarmiento de Junín, eliminated in the 32nd round against lesser rivals. And to River itself, on Friday, which fell 4-0 with the substitutes against the forklift from Independiente Rivadavia. But Boca played a serious game, complete, with the ambition and attention that these commitments require. Diego Martínez had an 11 with a majority of starters (only the injured Romero and Figal and those called up to national teams Medina, Valentini, Advíncula and Briasco were missing), with the best he had, and Boca honored its history with a 3-0 victory against to Central Norte, from the Federal A Tournament, with a convincing collective performance and two great definitions of Edinson Cavani, one of them with scissors (the third was scored by his compatriot Miguel Merentiel). The Xeneize, now, waits for the winner of the crossing between Almirante Brown and San Martín de Tucumán, with a date still to be confirmed.
Aggressiveness, speed, precision, acceleration, depth. Boca had all of this in the Mother of Cities. The defense? A mystery, since the Salteños barely generated any danger at the end of the first half, when Boca, somewhat confident, seemed to lower its guard. The calendar, it is true, allowed Diego Martínez to use his best pieces, which also arrived rested. Xeneize did not complete 90 minutes from 4 to 2 over Racing (against Estudiantes it was suspended 27′ into the first half), while their next match will be on Saturday, against San Lorenzo in La Bombonera, for the League Cup. But Boca, beyond the names, had the merit of never taking your foot off the accelerator; something fundamental in this kind of commitments. He played it like a championship game, with intensity and gritted teeth. And if he did not score more goals it was due to the lack of finesse of his forwards, especially in avoiding the offside.
The statistics show that Boca only lost twice in the Argentine Cup against opponents from lower categories: against Huracán in 2014 and against Almagro in 2019, two rivals from the B Nacional. At 17′, Boca was already winning 1-0. And in the way the coach likes: Zenón opened for Blanco, the full-back easily beat Santiago Rinaudo and sent a cross just for the entry of Cavaniwhat hit the net first from the door of the small area. El Matador reached his ninth shout with the blue and gold, six in the last four games.
Boca was too much for a Central Norte team that burned its papers after the first quarter of an hour. And then the game began, slowly, to take on open door training. Because of the difference in category between the teams and because Martínez took advantage of the distance on the scoreboard to give minutes to Darío Benedetto, Marcelo Saracchi and other footballers who came without filming. Besides, Taborda He had the chance from the start, Anselmino He fulfilled the position of central marker and Merentiel took off his mufa after five games without joy. Langoni, preserved for physical reasons, entered the complement very well (he assisted Merentiel for the 3-0) and Brey added another 90 ‘due to the injuries of Javier García and Chiquito Romero. The former Los Andes had little work between the three sticks, although he provided some rebounds that are not usually seen in his game.
Mouth, little by little, begins to become friends with the game that his coach intends to achieve positive results. He lost one of his last six games and now has an inspired, happy Cavani who plays, assists and converts. And he shouted his first goal with soul and life, in front of the Boca fans, who gave him another ovation.
Boca’s focus, it is clear, is on the final stretch of the League Cup, where he still rows from behind. With one less game (the one they must complete against Estudiantes), they are two points behind Newell’s, the last of the teams in the classification zone. But the victory over Central Norte comes in handy to raise the confidence of the team and to clear up doubts about the coach. In short, to go through the final dates of the contest and the beginning of the Copa Sudamericana, against Nacional de Potosí, with greater peace of mind.
Boca, as Martínez said, is obliged to fight on all fronts. By squad, by budget, and because their shirt demands it. Opposite there was a weak rival, who had not played for months (he had not yet debuted in the Federal) and who exhibited the logical limitations against a Boca full of hierarchy. Even so, Boca overcame an uncomfortable match with great play, attitude and goals. The path is the right one. It will be up to Boca not to deviate again.
Cavani: “The arch does not open, that is a lie”
Boca’s scorer spoke with TyC Sports after the xeneize victory. Still on the playing field, where it is often said that the revolutions do not slow down, he gave an open class. Without raising his voice, he listened to the question about the questions he received about what it cost him to score a goal and, with a kind and firm tone, he responded. What follows is a kind of monologue, in which the 37-year-old Uruguayan once showed that his hierarchy goes far beyond the size of a soccer field…
Cavani said: “They are games where there are many situations that sometimes one has not studied. It is difficult to plan it. We face the game with the right attitude, as we should do. We deserved this. Maybe get a broader advantage. The important thing is that it was won. The team was up to the task, with a good identity. We take away positive things. The arch does not open. We forwards make it open, when we continue working. It’s the only recipe. It is a lie that the arch opens. If you don’t go out looking for them, things don’t arrive. I am happy because we are getting the results. We are looking to find a way and little by little we are close. I’m glad to hear that. What has been said, we are used to. Yes, I have heard things from your players! (Clarification: refers to press criticism of Argentine soccer players). I’m going my way. That has been my essence and I will never change it. We had a great group, of good human beings. The most beautiful thing is when you achieve a great team. And that is achieved with healthy players. We all hugged together. It doesn’t matter who scores the goals. We have to continue growing and working.”