San Lorenzo and Vélez played a useless game, with no clear objectives at stake other than to win and improve their position in the standings. And that’s how the game went: flat, ugly, boring. Until the appearance of Ortigoza, the hero who turned 38 this Friday.
The 0-0 seemed decreed but at 46:51 minutes of the restart a race by Braida leads to a cross that, after the header of Vombergar, seems to hit the arm of De los Santos.
All eyes were on the referee, Andrés Merlos, who took some time to resume play, waiting for the VAR to tell him what had happened. One repetition and another passed, in all of them it seemed like a hand but it took the judge a long time to go to the screen to make sure: the clock showed 52:15, much more than the 5 minutes that had been added before the dispute.
While Merlos watched the screen, Néstor Ortigoza warmed up next to the substitutes’ bench. And the tribune of the Nuovo Gasometro anticipated the referee’s decision: “Olé, olé, olé … Gordo, Gordo …”, they sang.
Time continued to tick and Merlos returned to the field with the decision to collect the penalty with 54:39 on the clock. It was time for Ortigoza, who stood on the sidelines as American football players, determined to play one and take the drowsiness out of a boring and monotonous game.
Ortigoza came in at 55:20, put on the captain’s tape and took the ball. He didn’t care that Jara, Pratto and company came to talk to him, trying to achieve the impossible, that Fatty missed a penalty.
Orti lifts his socks, adjusts the ball, makes his typical little run and shakes the net with an unstoppable right, sticks to Burián’s right post, who throws himself over there and scratches the ball. The minute? 56:55.
Ortigoza sparked the celebrations of the whole town of Boedo, kissed the shield and ran to the corner, in the only play action he would have in the game. An unusual situation at the end of a race, marked by the titles in Boedo but also by his relentless record of twelve steps.
In that short time the sun came out, and a rainbow was drawn between the wind and the clouds, captured by TNT Sports cameras. The clock was at 61:03. And the Cyclone won.
Another surprising fact? The broadcast chose him as the figure of the match. “We are always prepared for this”, commented Orti, with his typical rhythm of voice. And he added: “I had to get in in the last three minutes. It was cold. The manager asked me if I was ready to kick and I said yes, of course. I’m happy because it was won and three were added.”
“Insua called me and asked me if I was ready to kick. I’m happy, it’s nice to celebrate a birthday like this. One has been in this for many years and knows how to manage anxiety and try to stay calm. I did it.” I don’t want to hit him hard, he had to go in “, closed the idol.
Source: Clarin
