Fortaleza drew 1-1 against Deportivo Cali at the Metropolitano de Techo stadium in Bogotá and qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2022 Colombia Cup, by beating the sugar producers 4-2 on aggregate. Those led by Nelson ‘El rolo’ Flórez, despite losing the game very quickly in the first half, managed to lift their team, with tactics they covered the spaces for the visit, achieving a very valuable tie to advance in the series .
During the first moments, the game became even with both teams trying to control the ball to advance in the opposite field, with the local having a little more depth. At minute 9, Kevin Velasco from the left sector gave a pass between the lines to Ángelo Rodríguez, the attacker controlled the ball, took advantage of Pedro Franco’s slip to profile himself, scored in a partial 0-1 and discounted the overall 3-2 in favor of the capitals.
With the goal, Cali achieved a bit of offensive depth with some opportunities, but then Fortaleza came out with the ball at his feet and disturbed the sugar defense, which left no space in the last defensive line. The visit after 20 minutes was able to recover the offensive positioning, but the striker and the wingers lacked support in the construction of the advances in the rival field, having to delay the plays.
At minute 35, the Caleños generated a very clear option in a corner kick executed by Kevin Velasco, Guillermo Burdisso headed the penalty spot, the ball was left to Jhon Vásquez at the near post, finishing off with first intention and the goalkeeper Yimy Gómez, He cleared the shot with forcefulness. In the last moments of the initial stage, the game was dominated by the Verdiblancos, who were getting closer and closer to the rival goal, but the last shots were from Fortaleza with Adrián Parra, passing very close to the verticals of Guillermo De Amores.
For the second half, Cali made the first substitution, Carlos Lucumí entered for Ángelo Rodríguez, who in the first half received a blow to the head and could not recover, unfortunately for the interests of the visit, maintaining the offensive initiative, but without depth and clarity in the last meters of the field of play.
The sugar workers continued to try on the flanks and the center, but their luck continued unchanged, while the Bogotanos, every time they attacked, caused the visiting defense a headache, until at minute 65, they recovered a ball in the center of the field, they made a change of sector where Jhon Solís received on the left side, assisted Adrián Parra, the attacker anticipated the defender who had his mark referenced and scored the partial 1-1.
In the final minutes, the teams began to refresh their game lines, in Fortaleza Andrés Salazar and Jhon Meléndez entered for Sebastián Navarro and Kevin Ademola and in Cali Jhon Vásquez, Christian Mafla and Jimmy Congo left for Yony González, Santiago Mosquera and Andrés Balanta. In the end, the people from the capital managed to maintain their defensive order and sealed their qualification for the next round of the cup.
In the quarterfinals of the Copa Colombia 2022, Fortaleza will face Millonarios in July, who beat Jaguares de Córdoba in their key.
Juan Andres Arias Arias
Correspondent Futbolred Cali
And Twitter: @ AriasJuan_15
