The words of the Junior squad in the previous weeks served, where they called for calm, despite the fact that the results were not favorable. Viera was one of those who insisted, it is not how it starts, but how it ends and highlighted the parity of the championship.
The victory against Tolima revealed the stamp of Cruz Real, in all its splendor. Dominance in options, actions and style of play. Junior imposed his rhythm on the Manuel Murillo Toro court, generating danger in Domínguez’s goal, as he finished off a total of seven times, in contrast to the pale generation of the red wine, who only had one, despite the 11 shots deflected.
Hernán Torres’ men looked scattered, lost and unable to be specific, in their usual style of play. Points to highlight, in the victory that leaves Juan Cruz Real’s men in fifth place with 15 units.
From you to you, before the proposal of Tolima: Junior, from the start, wanted to impose conditions on Tolima, which is known for the verticality it has with its players on the wings. Juan Cruz Real proposed a very compact 4-2-3-1, knowing the need to play one touch, to avoid losing in compromising zones.
Committed when it was necessary to defend, but also to go out and attack. The Barranquilleros had more scoring chances in the first half, which were not capitalized in the best way.
Homer Martínez, the multifunctional on the court: He did it as a midfielder, but he can perfectly enter as a central defender. In the front row of the midfield he was a back and forth player, being responsible for taking the ball to try to open the court with the wings. In addition, he got to receive in the exits to the floor, from the shark arch, positioning himself between the two central ones so that they allowed amplitude on the court.
That width on the court allowed Junior to play man to man with Tolima, to avoid surprises with the speed of the Tolima team. With Didier Moreno they alternated between the two, to get ahead and accompany the attacking plays.
The wear and tear on the pitch took its toll, and he was substituted at minute 76. His position on the pitch allowed him to be a solution, to open up the necessary spaces. He very close to the midfield pump, to take the ball. In total, he had 82% passing accuracy. Of those attempts to look for ball control, few went forward, giving priority to looking for players on the wings.
Cetré, González and Hinestroza, those of the explosion in attack: if Tolima has players with speed, Junior found in them the option to complicate an eleventh that did not look comfortable on the court. Cetré’s role was interesting, because with ‘Cariaco’ he managed to intersperse himself, to know which one entered from the band or from the middle of the field.
In addition, Cetré showed sacrifice, to support Fabián Viafara on the wing. For his part, Hinestroza was an enclave in the left area, where he alternated perfectly with Gabriel Fuentes, a great game to contribute in attack, in addition to having the intention of Tolima’s wide players in that area.
The saying goes that Junior can’t be left for dead. Optimum match, for the rival and what it means to get into the eight, giving a blow of authority, against perhaps the rival with the most consolidated game idea in Colombia, in addition, due to payroll, it represented a challenge in which the shark was at the height.
