MAR DEL PLATA.- A party within the José María Minella stadium, where the popular and open stalls, set up for almost 14,000 people, were dyed green and yellow, the colors of the caravan that arrived from the port. And outside, too, at the other end of the city, where the rival party set up their “fan fest” with a giant screen to follow the match that marked history. The final 0 to 0 qualifies the sport. It didn’t look good on the grass, but it is also true that without the friction that was feared for this history of 27 years without crosses that Aldosivi and Alvarado They were dragged after a last match marked by violence between fans and players.
The point adds up for two teams that in their respective zones are placed just above the middle of the table of the First National. The tie also serves because it lowers the tensions in this challenge, which was the possible reaction of the public to a result that would show a winner and a loser. And even more so it is valuable because in August, if everything continues as it went on the field, they will meet again in the interzonal rematch. It will then be with Alvarado at home, in this same stadium.
The two teams with the highest attendance in this city showed what they have. They generated mobilizations a day before and in the hours before this tight but clean match, which had almost no dominator. Those from Aldosivi moved through the Port the night before, with their flags and their flares, and the long-awaited rival did his thing at the door of the headquarters, with streets blocked by the large number of fans who came to say goodbye to the team, which was marching towards the hotel where they would wait for the classic.
Coaches Andrés Ylliana and Mauricio Giganti had shared a press conference at the beginning of the week, in the first of several signs that there were to seek that peace dominate this reunion after that match suspended after 20 minutes in August 1997.
The leaders also contributed their own, with unified messages in the same sense. Perhaps the most celebrated had to do with the special t-shirts that both teams wore on this Saturday afternoon: they wear a patch alluding to the city’s 150th anniversary and a complete set, from both Aldosivi and Alvarado, were donated to be auctioned to benefit the Maternal and Child Hospital Foundation (Fundami).
A security operation with more than 350 police officers and municipal personnel were deployed around and inside the World Cup stadium, where There were no incidents and a lot of color. The fans cheered up and located the historic one behind one of the arches. giant sharkwhich came loaded with some aura of curses and bad luck. Green and yellow smoke flares marked a curtain to welcome the team.
Meanwhile, at the Club’s sports grounds Alvaradothousands of other fans settled in one of the training fields where a giant screen. They also arrived there with a very colorful caravan that crossed the southwest area of the city. They shouted, they complained and, in the end, they celebrated the draw because there will be revenge in five months and they will be on the field with the possibility of the expected victory.
The duel had little to highlight in the game, with Aldosivi more animated at the beginning and Alvarado somewhat more determined after the first half hour. The controversies were also. The main one at the end of the first half: a very clear penalty from Franco Godoy to Guido Vadalá, when the Alvarado forward was preparing to score inside the six-yard box. Referee Arasa was less than five feet away. “Go on, go on,” he resolved.
Face to face they will meet again on the 27th, back in August. Alvarado will have almost five months to prepare for his party in the stands of the World Cup. This tie Surely the security agencies celebrated it more, They had a huge challenge ahead of them. The crossing of the fans in the streets, in the following days, will mark the course of what is to come. For now, he won football. After 27 years he showed that the forbidden classic was possible.
