Deportivo Cali visits this Thursday, starting at 9:00 pm, the Bolivian Always Ready of the Colombians Elkin Blanco, Alex Rambal and Gustavo Torres, and must add again so as not to lose sight of Corinthians, who this Tuesday defeated 2- 0 to Boca Juniors and climbed to the leadership of Group E, with two consecutive wins. Rafael Dudamel’s team comes from beating the Argentines and losing to the Brazilians.
Corinthians, with a brace from midfielder Maycon, beat Boca Juniors 2-0 on Tuesday and with the win reached 6 points to take first place in the balanced and hard-fought Group E of the Copa Libertadores.
The first goal was converted at the beginning of the game, when after 4 minutes of play in a combination of the experienced Renato Augusto and Fágner the ball came to Maycon and the midfielder, with a header, defined over the visiting goalkeeper Javier García. Despite the early advantage and the reaction of the visiting team, Corinthians did not lower their guard and Renato Augusto, Maycon himself and Willian and Jo had the opportunity to increase the score in the first half.
The clearest equalizing moves for Boca before the break were at the feet of Cristian Medina and Luis Vázquez, but goalkeeper Cassio prevented his goal from being breached. The Uruguayan referee Andrés Cunha had to intervene several times and admonish players from both teams to prevent the repeated brawls and confusion from taking on greater proportions, in the now customary rivalry between Brazilians and Argentines.
Corinthians coach, the Portuguese Vítor Pereira, and his Argentine counterpart Sebastián Battaglia moved their reserve banks in the second half, but the local coach had better luck. At 77 minutes, Maycon recovered the ball and delivered the ball to Willian, who in a sharp attack with striker Róger Guedes returned for the midfielder who came from behind accompanying the play that he himself started and thus decreed the 2-0.
In the final minutes, Corinthians came to completely dominate the match, which led to delirium to the more than 44,000 spectators who went to the Neo Química Arena and ended up singing the provocative “ole, ole”.
Next week, Always Ready will host Boca Juniors, while Corinthians will visit Deportivo Cali.
Positions in Group E
1. Corinthians – 6 pts (3 PJ) (1 DG)
2. Deportivo Cali – 3 pts (2 PJ) (1 DG)
3. Always Ready – 3 pts (2 PJ) (0 DG)
4. Boca Juniors – 3 pts (3 PJ) (-2 DG)
EFE
