Jairo Concha’s goal saved a game that Alianza Lima did not deserve to lose. The midfielder was the protagonist of a team that looked for the rival goal, he did not get into his field and tried to propose with the ball. But, beyond that goal from the ’10’ blue and white, they lacked resources to sign the victory. The lack of effectiveness against Daniel Ferreyra -of a great game- and the lack of inventiveness were aspects that prevented a better result in Cusco and that are pending tasks for Larriera for the next game.
With shell and heart
Alianza Lima’s best player is Jairo Concha and not only because of what he did at Garcilaso de la Vega, but also because of the level and regularity he shows in the Clausura. His goal was decisive in saving the team from a defeat that was not fair, because the intimates took center stage in the game and in the overall balance they surpassed their rival. But in football, the one who scores the goals wins and Concha’s man arrived with just enough, almost at the end of everything and with the blessing of staying first in the Accumulated. That right hand from ’10’ had everything: control, vision and quality. All together at 96 ‘, when the party died and Alianza was dying.
Kicking from outside the arc is one of Concha’s best weapons. He had not tried it in 90 ′, but those who know with the ball at their feet are like that and take advantage of the minimum space to bill. That goal was a reward for his effort and the attitude he gave him during the game. The Concha thing is no longer surprising. It is a reality and he will continue to be with Larriera on the bench. The DT put him in the right wing and the ’10’ ended up playing as a hitch. This polyfunctionality is key to taking advantage in each game.
lacked effectiveness
If we put Concha’s goal aside, we can appreciate what Alianza Lima lacked against Cusco FC. In much of the match, the intimates dominated the game and had the chance to get ahead on the scoreboard; but they lacked efficiency against Ferreyra’s goal and finished the plays better. Hernán Barcos and Christian Cueva had the clearest in the first part; while Santiago García missed an incredible opportunity to break the rival nets in the second half.
Deciding better is one of the pending tasks in the blue and white team, because it complicates the chances of quickly gaining an advantage over the rival and even more so in a complicated place like Cusco. Alianza had chances to get ahead on the scoreboard against Cusco FC, which seemed asleep before the dominance of the visit. Correcting it is key in Matute, especially when the Clausura is in the decisive stage and it is important to add the most points to stay in the first of the Accumulated.
little inventiveness
Another issue to correct is the lack of inventiveness of the team in the attack zone to filter a good pass towards the forwards. In several passages of the match, it was possible to see an Alianza with the ball dominated, but without that clarity to send the ball low behind the rival defenders and create a goal opportunity. Cueva and Concha assumed that function and each one did what they could. ‘Aladino’, for example, tried the individual when he couldn’t find spaces, while Jairo left the right wing precisely to position himself closer to Barcos, from an irregular game in Cusco. What’s more, the ‘Pirate’ stepped back a few meters to participate in the game, the same as Aldair Rodríguez, who entered to be another pass option.
This connection between midfielders and forwards is important in attack and gives offensive weight to the team. Alianza has already shown that they can have possession as a visitor, but they have to reflect that advantage in the result. Dominating on the field and on the scoreboard is an objective to be met for this new version of the team and time will be key to achieving it. Of course, the defense of Cusco FC also has merit, because it knew how to stay organized and cover the spaces to prevent balls from leaking between their defenders.
a game idea
It is clear that a draw is a better result than a defeat; but it is not enough for a team like Alianza Lima, which needs to win on a visit to breathe easy in the Accumulated. Beyond that, what Larriera’s team offered is a sign of what may come in the future. The Uruguayan tries to put his stamp on it, that his hand is noticed and that his message reaches the group. It was his first official game and he did not do badly. An idea was noticed, a change that can bring better results in the short term and where it is necessary to work to achieve the three-time championship.
Alianza showed itself in Cusco with the confidence to make its party. Although the result was not good, it is a starting point to lay the foundations and start building. It was not won, but it was not lost either; and the result serves to strengthen that confidence in the players and in the DT’s speech. Time will give or take away Larriera’s reason. For now, there is another idea and what Alianza needs is that. An idea to play.
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