In order to enjoy, you first have to know how to suffer, says the tango, and boy did the leader do it Velez Sarsfield last night in Liniers against a complicated Tigrewho controlled it in the first half, but took the 1-0 and the victory sought after three consecutive draws, at the close of the 21st. date of the Professional League.
Thus Vélez (42) once again took three points from Huracán, the only one willing to fight for the championship, while Tigre (26), no longer under the siege of relegation, let go of a streak of six matches without defeats.
Vélez went out to look for him voraciously but with few ideas, while Tigre opted to resist the first minutes and hurt when the local effervescence subsided.
The entire championship was watching the development closely and was looking for Vélez’s fourth draw in a row until Gian Nardelli, against him, broke the deadlock 30 minutes into the second half.
Sebastián Domínguez‘s team, which emerged in Vélez, had the two clearest shots of the first half, with a header that was saved on the line and another one-on-one in which Tomás Marchiori drowned out Facundo Ferreyra’s scream.
The difference on the field was made by Gonzalo Maroni. The skillful visiting team brought several complications to the Velez defense. With simple touches and constant mobility he messed it up and caused concern among local fans.
On Vélez’s side, everything was too forced. He felt the pressure. Claudio Aquino and Francisco Pizzini were far from their level in the first half; and Braian Romero, starving for assists, invented a chance at the end with a weak and deflected attempt.
It is true that he adjusted things at halftime and came out different, he put more pressure on Tigre’s exit and constantly hinted, but he still wasn’t the Vélez of other parts of the championship, until he unlocked it.
And one of the best options of the night came after 20 minutes at the feet of an erratic Pizzini. Better, impossible: a loss by Gian Nardelli at the start gave the ball to Aquino, who assisted the former Talleres to finish badly alone.
From that situation, Vélez woke up, Romero instantly had it – goalkeeper Felipe Zenobio’s shoulder prevented him from making it 1 to 0 – and he made friends with the ball.
And they say that to be champion you have to win and Vélez won although he also pushed. The relief came with a goal against Nardelli after two rebounds. And this contest is defined by goal difference. And on the last date the “Fortín” receives Huracán in Liniers.
From the advantage, Tigre died helplessly and Vélez relaxed knowing he was ahead in the result, but did not increase it. Now, on Monday at 4pm he will have to go to the difficult Deportivo Riestra court to continue walking towards the title. Meanwhile, Boca Juniors awaits him in the semifinals of the Argentine Cup on the 27th of this month. There are six dates left until the end of the Professional League.
