Classic 305 and Santa Fe officiated as local. The expectation of seeing the clash of styles between Gamero and Cardetti was total. The passing of the minutes revealed the long process of the blue coach. Victory 0 to 3 against the patio rival.
Santa Fe presented novelties in its initial scheme, such as the inclusion and return of Francisco Meza, after passing through Mexico. In addition, to have Matías Mier on the court, already recovered. Wilfrido De La Rosa was sent to the stands. On the Millonarios sides, there was only one variant, Jáder Valencia entered instead of Diego Herazo, by technical decision.
The intention in the first minutes was taken by the visiting team. Eduardo Sosa tried, in a good combination on the right wing with Perlaza, wall and the Venezuelan finished off, the goalkeeper Silva saved without problems. Followed, a bad setback from the defensive zone ended in a corner kick, Silva charged at risk, Vásquez served as a pivot for Vega to take a shot, which went wide.
Santa Fe tried to begin to elaborate, given the few spaces that the blues left behind the defenders and front-line midfielders. The first opportunity for the cardinal’s team came by way of the long way, Sánchez enabled Matías Mier, at minute 17, who drew his left leg, so that Álvaro Montero could save.
Millonarios’ response was immediate, not only seeking to control possession of the ball and controlling the lion’s exit attempts. The high pressure served Gamero’s men, who at minute 22, in the right sector of the Reds, stole the ball. David Macallister Silva took the ball, setting the ball in the direction of an arc, but it hit the crossbar.
Gamero had to move the board, Jáder Valencia was injured at minute 34, after a clash with goalkeeper José Silva, giving way to Herazo.
Millonarios would take advantage on the scoreboard, in a corner kick charged by Daniel Ruiz. Center to the penalty spot, rebound left by Llinás and Larry Vásquez entered only to touch the ball and put the visitors ahead on the scoreboard, at minute 38.
Santa Fe sought to respond, advancing their lines of attack more, just with a shot from Pedroza that went wide. Herazo entered and at minute 46 he took a shot, from medium distance.
At the end of the first half, a VAR action was presented. Entry from Carlos Sánchez to David Silva, the cardinal midfielder managed to touch the ball, but hit the blue midfielder. Despite the review, the center determined a yellow card for the Cardinal midfielder.
The start of the second half would be the turning point, from the mood and the process of the game. It took no more than two minutes for Edwin Herrera to make a mistake in a drop, sending the ball to the corner kick. The ball bounced off Francisco Meza, leaving Herazo alone to push it.
It wasn’t just the goal. Yulián Anchico received the red card, after receiving the second yellow, after a foul on Diego Herazo. Despite the expulsion, Santa Fe did not lower his arms and began to put pressure on the blue defense, which contained that attack. Yeiler Góez came out in place of Matías Mier, to cover the hole left by the departure of the Cardinal midfielder.
Cardetti tried to turn it around with the changes. He took out Coniglio, to make way for Estupiñán in attack; In addition, Herrera left and Harold Gómez entered, from the area on the right.
Gamero did the same, minutes later. He gave way to Celis and Guerra, two wing players, to prevent the Santa Fe wingers from leaving, taking Sosa and Ruiz off the field.
The arrivals from Santa Fe were limited to looking for the ball long. When he tried to play on the floor, Morelo and Estupiñán looked static, leaving the center forward to his fate, leaving everything in the attempt to find a space between the blue center backs.
The changes took effect. Celis eluded Gómez, sending a good ball between the central defenders of Santa Fe, so that Edgar Guerra only had to define before José Silva had little chance of avoiding the fall of his goal, at minute 74.
From then on, Millonarios managed the ball, giving it touch and handling in all areas of the court. The Blues had the fourth. Herazo was running diagonally to the goal. He enabled Macalliser Silva, who sent the ball over the crossbar.
Another wrong action, this time, at Celis’s feet. Dry shot to the center of the area that goalkeeper José Silva took, left the rebound for Herazo and also managed to reach the local goalkeeper. The last one was at the feet of the Millonarios captain, David Silva crashed another ball into the post.
With the victory, Millonarios closes the first round of the championship as the leader with 23 units, they will face Once Caldas on the following day, after the stoppage due to elections in Colombia. Santa Fe will visit Pasto, remaining, for now, in box 11 with 13 points.
