Deportivo Independiente Medellín beat América de Cali 2-1 in the first leg of the first phase of the Copa Suramericana 2022. The powerful went to rest with a goal from Vladimir Hernández, the visit equalized through Adrián Ramos, but it was Andrés Cadavid who scored the winning goal. Luciano Pons wasted a penalty, which left the series alive for the second leg in Cali.
The game began with back-and-forth actions, América generated the first arrival at minute 4 through the Spanish Iago Falque with a shot from the right sector with his left leg, but Andrés Mosquera Marmolejo controlled. Four minutes later, Jean Pineda’s header almost opened the scoring, but the ball went slightly wide of the scarlet goal.
At minute 11, Larry Angulo from mid-distance demanded Marmolejo again. Medellín responded with Luciano Pons, but Graterol was attentive to the Argentine’s shot.
The following minutes, they had the game concentrated in the center of the field, where the midfielders were the ones with the most work.
Around minute 28, Adrián Arregui from mid-range almost scored the first goal, but the ball went slightly wide of the American goal. From that play, Medellín generated three more approaches and the spirits lowered with the momentum of the stands.
So much was the insistence of the local, that in discount time, Vladimir Hernández with an accurate shot, overcame the resistance of goalkeeper Joel Graterol, opening the scoring for DIM. The local went with a minimal advantage to the dressing room, controlled the actions and was more consistent.
In the complementary stage, despite the color of the stands, América de Cali came out more concentrated and at minute 2, Adrián Ramos tied the score, after taking advantage of a right pass from Joider Micolta, who had entered instead of Eber Moreno. The other substitution made by the visitor at halftime was that of Juan Portilla instead of Luis Paz.
At minute 11, after a free kick, the second goal came for Medellín, through Andrés Cadavid, who with a shot below the American barrier, dislodged the goalkeeper Graterol, once again leading the scoreboard to the Antioquian team.
After the goal, América tried to change his way of attacking and risked his game with variants. Not only in positions, but in players. Didier Pino and Alejandro Quintana entered instead of Iago Falque and Adrián Ramos.
At minute 20, Adrián Arregui and Vladimir Hernández had the third, but between the rival defense and poor aim, they were unable to score the goal. At 26, Juan David Mosquera did not take advantage of a pass into the void by Vladimir Hernández, saving the visiting team.
At minute 31 and after an incursion by Vladimir Hernández from the right, the central referee Flavio de Souza did not hesitate to sanction the penalty point, a minute later, Luciano Pons finished off and goalkeeper Joel Graterol managed to contain the charge that went to the post of his left hand.
Medellín lost attack volume, despite the changes made by Julio Comesaña. It had ceded ground that America had occupied, although it lacked forcefulness. In the end, they win with little flavor, thinking about the weak performance as a visitor and that the advantage is barely one goal.
The return match between Independiente Medellín and América de Cali will be played next Wednesday, March 16, at the Pascual Guerrero stadium in Cali.
Juan Camilo Alvarez Serrano
FUTBOLRED Correspondent
Medellin
En Twitter: @juanchoserran8
