The expectation was great to see how both squads would fare after what happened last Saturday at the Monumental. However, few imagined an unprecedented lineup by Larriera with a line of three at the back and Fossati’s offensive proposal, of never giving up the attack and seeking to propose from the first minute. ‘Orejas’ struck the first blow with an early goal and then ‘Calca’, from the bench, took an impossible painting for Campos and thus closed the account and pulverized all kinds of hope of the intimates. A 3-1 on aggregate and the hubbub in Ate.
Keys to the match
Larriera’s bad slate
In the most important game of the year, Mauricio Larriera decided to take a risk with a line of three at the back and failed. The Uruguayan coach had never started a game with a 3-5-2, but in the second leg of the final he decided to try this approach and surprise the ‘U’, a team that does use that slate every weekend. At the back, Zambrano, Míguez and Vílchez were never safe and felt the lack of habit in this lineup and proof of this was the fragility throughout the first half.
The same as the wingers Peruzzi and Lagos, who also suffered with the scheme. Putting Ballón in the middle with Valenzuela and leaving Jesús Castillo on the bench was another serious mistake by Larriera, Concha was alone and not very participative and above, pairing Hernán Barcos with Pablo Sabbag was not a good idea. The team was divided, without having the ball and only at 37 ‘, Larriera accepted his mistake by taking out Valenzuela, putting Zanelatto in and creating a 4-4-2. Only in the second half, with the entry of Reyna and Costa, Alianza recomposed itself a little and returned to 4-2-3-1, but it was too late.
Fossati’s experience
If last Saturday Fossati’s only mistake was the changes; This time, the opposite happened, and one of its main virtues was its variants. After Flores’ 1-0 lead and a dominant first half, Alianza came out with a different face in the second half, but ran into a solid and compact ‘U’ at the back. And when the wear and tear was evident, the Uruguayan coach moved the bench and the names that came in were up to the task: Horacio Calcaterra, José Bolivar, Jorge Murrugarra and José Rivera.
Precisely, ‘Calca’ was the author of the second goal and the creamy delirium at the end. The ’10’ cream was one of the most outstanding that entered and from his foot a painting was born that left Campos hanging. After a play that was not considered lost, Quispe, the ’36’, played with Polo, he returned it and gave it to the Argentine nationalized Peruvian, the midfielder had great control of the ball, made space and finished off from the right with camber
Flowers for ‘Ears’
The fan who returned to the ‘U’ to make them champion. Edison Flores returned from the United States after a season with ups and downs in the MLS, ‘Orejas’ had a hard time finding his rhythm, getting back to his level and Fossati took him little by little until he had a good performance. And if in the national team, he was remembered for his important goals, with the merengue shirt he could not be the exception, and in Matute he appeared to lead the way to the title.
The ‘U’ came out with everything at the start of the match and with a hesitant Alliance and mistakes at the start, the creams did not forgive. After an authorization from Martín Pérez Guedes to Polo on the right wing, the ’24’ sent a cross into the area and ‘Orejas’ appeared alone to head in without problems and leave an intimate team bewildered in just 3′ of play.
‘Jewel’ of the team
If there was a player who had to appear in the finals, it was Piero Quispe. The young cream midfielder did not mind the game in Ate, nor in Matute. With the bar against him and in a hostile scenario, the ’36’ threw himself into playing and was the axis of Fossati’s team. Together with Ureña, he controlled the pace of the game and was in charge of connecting the midfield with the attacks and made more than one rival desperate.
Quispe received several strong tackles and even then he was not intimidated, he shouldered the team and always showed himself. He touched the ball, distributed it and even changed it, at 84′, the ‘U’ played at its own pace. According to SofaScore, he received the highest rating with 7.5, the same as Edison Flores.
Solid back
The goals from Flores and Calcaterra were key to the title, but the basis of the victory also fell on the line of three at the back, Aldo Corzo, Williams Riveros and Matías Di Benedetto. The three played a vital match in Matute, nullifying Hernán Barcos, Pablo Sabbag and Bryan Reyna. ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Tano’ were in charge of neutralizing the ‘Pirate’ and the ‘Sheikh’, and when they took over, the cream captain also appeared in the photo.
Corzo prevented Bryan Reyna from unfolding and facing him with ease, he even threw himself face-first and in a key play during the 1-0 score, he saved an offensive action inside the area with his leg. According to SofaScore, Riveros had a rating of 6.8, Di Benedetto 6.9 and ‘Mazo’ 7.0.
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