Wednesday night was cold in Tunja. The 11 degrees Celsius that the thermometer showed meant that the few fans who arrived at the La Independencia stadium had to cover themselves with ruanas, thick jackets and even blankets to watch the duel between Boyacá Chicó and Independiente Medellín.
The 2,782 meters above sea level at which the capital of Boyacá is located did their thing. From the beginning of the match, the DIM players, who although they train in Llanogrande, where there is an altitude of 2,070 meters, were affected by soroche or the lack of oxygen caused by the altitude.
That’s why the Paisa team’s players are slow to trot during the first half hour of the match. That was the reason why the members of the powerful squad did not find a good rhythm of play during the 90 minutes.
That was also what led to the Reds being imprecise in their touch of the ball, in their deep passes, since it is well known that this weather condition leads to the ball running a little faster than normal.
On this occasion, the blame for Medellín’s lack of precision was not due to the poor condition of the field, since the television broadcast showed a green, uniform field, suitable for playing a good game, but rather to the inability of the athletes from the People’s Team to understand each other (there were passages from the game in which they were seen fighting) and to understand the corrections that Alfredo Arias, desperate, made from the substitutes’ bench.
The People’s Team, which had the support of a few fans who came to Boyacá soil, was also a victim of the intense siege of Chicó, who knew how to take advantage of the home field and put pressure on the rival on their playing field, having control of the ball , he moved it with dynamism and attacked with speed.
In a mix of these factors came the first goal of the game. It was scored, in the 29th minute, by Wílmar Cruz after receiving a ball, which came from the right side, in a cross into the area.
A bad streak for the red box
That was the first of the three blows with which Chicó achieved his first victory of the tournament. Before, they had lost 4 games and tied the remaining one. The second came in the 62nd minute, when Geimer Balanta scored a penalty that the central judge gave after Jimer Fory recklessly knocked down midfielder Sebastián Támara.
But the most serious error came with 9 minutes left in regulation time. Goalkeeper Chaux tried to control a ball inside the area with his feet. However, he lost it to Michael Nike Gómez, who ran towards the goal and scored the final 3-0.
That was the 12th goal received by DIM, which is in 15th place in the table, so far in the opening tournament. He was also the 11th goal he conceded in three away games.
Medellín, which has not won away from home since last December 3, when it beat Nacional 0-5 at the Polideportivo Sur stadium in Envigado, went six years without being able to beat Chicó in Tunja. The last time he did it was on February 11, 2018, when with goals from Jesús Murillo and Andrés Ricaurte, he beat the checkers 2-1.
There are already 20 times that the DIM has visited Chicó in history, with a balance of 2 victories, 6 draws and 12 defeats, unflattering antecedents for the Antioquia team, which will now return to the Atanasio, where it does adjust a long undefeated and becomes strong, to receive Fortaleza, this Saturday, from 6:05 pm
In addition, this was Alfredo Arias’ 40th game at the helm of Poderoso. In them he has achieved 19 victories, 10 draws and 11 defeats. The next game for the red team, which seems unable to get out of the crisis, will be this Saturday, when they host Fortaleza at the Atanasio (6:05 pm).
Relive the minute by minute of this commitment here:
Minute 90+4: The game ends with a new victory against DIM away from home. Chicó won 3-0.
Minute 80: Goal!! when I was a boy. Error by goalkeeper Éder Chaux who lost the ball under pressure from a Chico player and scored by Michael Nike Gómez.
Minute 71: Header by José Aja that almost made it into Medellín’s discount, but the local goalkeeper reacted well.
Minute 62: Goool!! of the boy. Geimer Balanta scores the second goal of the checkered team from a penalty and the game becomes uphill for Poderoso. Chicó wins 2-0.
Minute 45+3: The first half ends with a timid attempt by Medellín to react, but they will have to improve a lot if they want to equalize the actions and continue ahead in the second half.
Minute 38: DIM went out to look for the tie and Chicó pulls back. Those led by Alfredo Arias lack greater success when they step into the area.
Minute 28: Goal!! when I was a boy. After a cross from the right, Wílmar Cruz connects with the ball and makes it 1-0 for the home team.
Minute 16: First clear arrival of the game. It was for Chicó, but Sebastián Támara finished off wide.
Minute: 15: DIM is well at the back, but it lacks greater clarity in attack.
Minute 10: So far there are few arrivals and both teams are analyzing each other, the game does not have much rhythm either and is interrupted by fouls.
Minute 1: The ball rolls between Chicó and Medellín at the La Independencia stadium