The boys from Argentina celebrate the victory of the L’Alcudia tournament. Photo: Capture
The Argentine Under 20 men’s team, led by Javier Mascherano, today became champion of the traditional tournament in L’Alcudia, Spain, winning 4-0 over Uruguay.
Agustín Giay (PT 8m), Ignacio Maestro Puch (ST 14m), Brian Aguirre (ST 35m) and Lautaro Ovando (ST 39m, penalty) scored the goals at the “Els Arcs” Municipal Stadium, while goalkeeper Federico Gómes Gerth saved a penalty against striker Andrés Ferrari (ST 28m).
In this way, Argentina took the third title after the conquests of 2012 and 2018 and equaled Brazil and Spain (3). The previous time, the Argentine team obtained the consecration with Lionel Scaloni as coach.
Argentina was formed with: Federico Gómes Gerth; Agustín Giay, Lautaro Di Lollo, Francisco Marco and Valentín Barco; Lautaro López, Nicolás Paz, Agustín Rodríguez (Mateo Seoane), Juan Gauto and Ignacio Maestro Puch; and Brian Aguirre. Then came Mateo Seoane, Brian Aguilar, Lautaro Ovando and Nahuel Genez.
Mascherano’s side took the lead when they made the most of a rebound after a missed Uruguay free kick. Lethal the counterattack with the passage of Aguirre and the definition of Giay.
Atlético Tucumán striker Maestro Puch could have increased the difference on 23 minutes, but his shot went close to the right post.
At the end of the first half, Argentina successfully defended a Uruguayan free kick taken a few meters from the area, when the referee charged an indirect foul for Marco’s back pass to Gómes Gerth.
Uruguay went out in search of an equalizer and their intention was frustrated when Argentina took advantage of a corner kick. Maestro Puch, with a header, makes it 2-0.
Shortly after, Barco committed an infraction in the area and Gómes Gerth, with a save without a rebound, reassured Argentina about the penalty taken by Ferrari.
Aguirre signed the 3-0 after the striker of Gauto and Ovando precisely defined the second penalty of the evening for the final 4-0.
Both teams were winners of their respective zones early on and reached the definition with identical campaigns of three wins and one draw.
Argentina, six times champion and top world champion in the category, made their debut 0-0 against Ukrainian Rukh and then won against Valencia FC (2-0), UD Alzira (1-0) and Levante (2- 0), in the semifinals.
The president of the AFA, Claudio Tapia, and the midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, in the stalls area, participated in the Argentine consecration in the tournament played since 1984 in a stadium full of 7 thousand spectators who followed this 38th anniversary until the end. edition of the competition.
With information from Telam
Source: Clarin
