Racing beat Sarmiento just enough for a great goal from Matías Rojas

victory is refreshing due to the immediate antecedent, a fall by Mendoza that left nothing, not even any prejudice from the good game shown last year. However, the opposite is true in this league. Racing beat Sarmiento, but the fan was thirsty for football. He was left with nothing against a minor rival who arrived at the Cylinder with an unambitious plan, but he was restless in the second half when needed. The changes of interpreters and schemes introduced by Fernando Gago continue to convince. They may have been somewhat productive for this Sunday, but little was observed of the excellent first half against Lanús, the best Biancoceleste version of 2023. And he doesn’t deserve the excuse of the heat, which has affected both.

The defeat against Godoy Cruz, but above all the weak collective performance, invited variations, but the coach kicked the scoreboard. Without Leonardo Sigali, injured and with a month’s recovery, Gago presented a line of three central defenders with the introduction of Tomás Avilés, a 182-centimetre-tall 19-year-old boy who moved as last man, with Jonathan Galván and Gonzalo You rain by his side.

A 3-4-3 was therefore set up in which Avilés led, Aníbal Moreno and Juan Nardoni shared in the center and on the wings, Oscar Opazo and Gabriel Rojas were on a higher level, away from Gabriel Arias, with the aim of deepen Front, Paolo Guerrero was the reference and Johan Carbonero and Matías Rojas had the mission to hurt the interior with the changed profile.

All very nice in theory, but in practice it was difficult to generate volume. Basically, because Sarmiento was planted with five defenders, two starting midfielders and three forwards, even if Lucas Melano and Luciano Gondou wore out covering the flanks. The only point was Lisandro López, the last idol Mozart and Corbatta stepped on, applauded by all.

Junín’s team has grouped well. And it got off to a better start with Gonzalo Bettini’s projections and a pressure after the defeat that made it intense, despite the high temperature. In any case, the ball was owned by Racing, which is one of the teams with the most possession in the tournament and reached peaks of 80% after the first half.

Of course, the mandate doesn’t always manifest itself clearly. And there were inaccuracies. It was difficult for the triangular academy, but Matías Rojas always gave hope. When the Paraguayan managed to get inside and find Guerrero’s support in the pivot, Racing worried Sarmiento’s defenders.

Two mid-range shots from Aníbal Moreno, one missed very close to the left post and another blocked by Sebastián Meza, and three shots (two from free-kicks) from Matías Rojas, a couple of which were cleared by the away goalkeeper and one that rebounded from Melano and it was not a goal by a few centimeters. Those were the clearest situations.

Until the end of the first half, Rojas cut inside, eluded Fernando Martínez and nailed a left dagger, unassailable by Meza. It was an award for the importance rather than the smoothness of the operation. And Avilés came close to doubling, finishing from a distance and bursting the crossbar of the goal for the greens.

In the complement, Sarmiento disarmed the line of five. Israel Damonte eliminated Emiliano Méndez, set up Manuel García in center and brought in Javier Toledo as a second striker. Lisandro was delayed and moved from 5-2-3 to 4-3-1-2. Subsequently, he released Sergio Quiroga. His team had more mobility. And he left some spaces, of course.

However, the departure of Matías Rojas left Racing without its best weapon and the Paraguayan teammates did not finish well. Carbonero is fast, sure of himself, but he has to refine his final jersey. When he beat Gonzalo Bettini one-on-one, he found no presence in the box. Neither with Guerrero nor with Maximiliano Romero. And he almost didn’t shoot on goal in that second half. A shot by Jonathan Gómez that got up very close to the corner and nothing more.

Sarmiento also failed to finish. Just a thrill from Quiroga. Later, they were all centers. And fight, with Fernando Martínez solid in the second half. Racing had Moreno to hold on to. And you end up winning. Not to lose ground in the championship. Identity, that overwhelming level of 2022, conspicuous by its absence.