As soon as Maravilla Martínez’s definition ended in the net, a scream echoed in the silence of the immensity dressed in red. At the same time, the line judge quickly raised his flag for an alleged offside and a large number of fans located in the Ricardo Bochini stalls pointed furiously at the box where the leaders and friends of the team were located. Racing.
Costas lived the Avellaneda classic to the fullest. Photobaires
However, in football in times of VAR, euphoria gave way to doubts and after 80 seconds, the technology validated the goal. For the players themselves it was less than 80”: from the press booths came confirmation that the 1-0 was valid. So yes, the visiting box erupted again and the celebration moved to the playing field with the 11 from the Academy and the entire bench of substitutes led by a passionate Gustavo Costas.
Independiente threw a party at the Libertadores de América. An hour before the start, there were people even on the stairs. In fact, the voice of the stadium even begged a couple of supporters who were watching the game on the giant screen to come down.
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What happened in the first half did not suggest a similar outcome. Alex Luna was a demon for Racing’s defense. He faced and passed every time he wanted to and had Tobías Rubio and Facundo Mura cautioned.
The great performance of the reinforcement who arrived from Atlético de Rafaela on loan for one year, with a fee of 200 thousand dollars and a purchase option of 800 thousand dollars for 50 percent of the pass, forced Costas to replace Rubio with Nazareno Colombo at halftime.
The debut in a derby did not weigh on the 19-year-old with a past in different youth categories of the Argentine National Team.
It was also the first time for Facundo (14) and Octavio (9), who arrived from Rafaela especially to go to the court. Juan Diego (7), from Resistencia, also fulfilled his dream, accompanied by his mother and his grandfather. From Dock Sud, the twins Noah, wearing a Canelo shirt, and Teo, wearing a Toloza jacket, also had their baptism with their parents. The same thing happened with Lucas (4) and Juan Manuel (5), with a Spiderman hat and backpack, others who were present for the first time.
For those kids, Saturday afternoon will forever remain in their memory beyond the final result. The fireworks and smoke at the team’s exit, the pride of the King of Cups, the love for colors and the permanent focus on the advantage in history. There was no shortage of the hit “That our children were born…” and even a toy baby in a light blue and white t-shirt facing the footballers who were warming up. The enormous curtain that unfolded upside down at one of the headboards was the only omen that something bad could happen.
Little from the Academy, with a physically limited Juanfer and an erratic midfield in the face of significant pressure from those led by Carlos Tevez. Maxi Salas had it in a counter and Rey responded very well. The plan was clear: hold back with three solid centre-backs and try to break Red’s lines with long passes to get face to face with the goalkeeper.
Already in the complement, Luna turned off and Racing breathed. Especially at 16′, when Juanfer cleaned up the play with a subtle touch and Bruno Zuculini, with time and space, assisted Maravilla Martínez. The former Institute scattered Rey and scored his 6th. both in 7 games.
“Make a change, Carlitos,” shouted a plate player. And Tevez responded with two modifications: Santiago Toloza and Ignacio Maestro Puch for Gabriel Neves and the resisted Alexis Canelo. The refreshments on offense did not allow the sacrificed Gabriel Ávalos to have any chance of danger.
The one who was about to extend the advantage was Agustín Almendra, after a very good pass from Quintero, but the former Boca defined wide. The response came from the stands: “Movete Rojo, movete…” and “Come on Rojo, come on. Lay eggs, we’ll win.” That push had no effect inside: a free kick from Mancuello that passed close and nothing more.
There was only time for angry complaints about a handball in the area by Facundo Mura in stoppage time and for endless hugs from the Academy players in the middle of the pitch after Facundo Tello’s final whistle.
What started on Friday with a massive flag-waving in the Cilindro, continued a day later but at a distance from those thousands who filled the field, without a game in between, to support the team.
With the passion that Costas and Zuculini transmit, the flashes of Juanfer and the “wonderful” cry in the silence of Martínez, Racing took over Avellaneda.