Getting into the top eight of the Libertadores is not an everyday thing… Much less when the team does not have the wallet of the usual powerful. Mindful of the historic opportunity presented to you this Wednesday night, Talleres did not hesitate and played a great game in Santa Fe. Colón, on the other hand, only remembered to be bold when he was against the ropes and was left with nothing.
The Cordoba team was lord and master of the actions from minute one despite playing in someone else’s rodeo. The Portuguese Pedro Caixinha opted for youth from midfield forward and, in this case, they were synonymous with rebellion against a rival with surnames as famous as they were dull. Colón almost didn’t even kick the goal in the first half, an exaggeration of the proposal that he had already shown in the 1-1 first leg at the Mario Alberto Kempes (this was literal as the team went from 4-1-4-1 to 5-1-3-1).
The Talleres thing was very good in the first part, both individually and collectively, but it is seen that the DT needed to adjust some nut since just after halftime the visit found the advantage. It was through Federico Girotti, a substitute in the first leg and a starter now due to the injury of the Uruguayan Santos. The ex-River came out devilish to play the second part, complicating the sabalera defense alone, but the opportunity to celebrate was given to him after a great overflow from Godoy and center back. Neither Goltz nor Garcés took charge of the brand and Girotti defined first for the well-deserved 1-0 at 47 minutes.
It did not take long for Falcioni to disarm the line of three central defenders and put the jewel of the Sabalero Facundo Farías on the field -already sold to a business group- to join magic with Pulga Rodríguez and see if they could supply Wanchope Ábilawhich came on.
But Talleres guessed all the tricks for the Santa Fe magicians. Even the clearest local action came due to someone else’s error: Catalan miscalculated a jump and enabled Ábila, who went alone against Herrera but took so long that the Colombian Rafa Pérez reached it and with a great cross he sent it to the corner. It was shouted like a goal and it truly was worth it.
With Colón very played in attack but the lights out, the second of Talleres was about to fall and Angelo Martino scored against it at 97. Triumph 2-0, first qualification for the quarterfinals of the Libertadores in the history of the club and, after the well-deserved celebrations, to see on television if his next rival was Vélez or River.
