The Gimnasia children’s dream of being crowned champion of the Projection Championship ended after they lost last night on penalties (4-1) to Boca, in the final match held at the Florencio Sola Stadium in Banfield. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes, and 12-step shots had to be used to determine the champion.
Lobo has a separate paragraph for everything he did in the match. For the sacrifice he made despite coming empty-handed. Gimnasia came out determined. Regardless of the hierarchy of the opponent that was in front of him. The arrangement was done from back to front, with midfielders quick to recover and accurate in passing the ball, and high up, with the usual threat of Jorge de Assis and Santino López Garcia.
Boca, who adapted better on the pitch after the sacrifice of Dalmasso and Caligari, despite their presence in defence, left several holes that the healthy attackers exploited.
Boca were warned in the 7th minute from a free kick taken by Payal, which Kadijevic blocked well. However, at the age of 11, and having lacked intelligence in the Boca background, Santino Lopez Garcia seemed to have rocked the afternoon for Florencio Sola and the Lobo fans, who arrived in large numbers and made themselves felt throughout the match,
Gimnasia did a good job of pressuring Boca’s departure, especially in the Mastrangelo sector, always back and forth. After the 1920s, Kuzemka’s team was the clear boss of the game. With the midfielders involved well in the game and tactically outmaneuvering a lost, hesitant and at times naive Boca, who only came close when Simeone’s header hit the crossbar.
But with the encouragement of his fans, Boca raised his performance from the point of view. He was not overtly sharp in attacks, but he created two very suitable equalizing situations, in each of which Valentino Simone was the protagonist. At the beginning of the second half, Boca came out with another determination. More determined to change the result date. He advanced a few meters and from both sides, he began to reach Gimnasia, which once again repeated its strategy from the first half: tactically organized in all its lines. However, in an underground match, Boca had difficulty breaking down a strong defense as Juan Cruz Cortazo and Federico Bendas showed solidity at the required times.
Little by little, Boca’s pressure had its effect. He fought every ball as if it were his last, and in a well-connected play from back to front, he reached par at 12, with a short, close-range shot from Valentino Simeone, leaving Kadijević without reaction. However, at the age of 18, there was a controversial play, as the Villarreal kid, who entered from the left, went down inside the penalty area, but the referee understood otherwise, despite the request of the men’s bench.
After the goal, Mariano Herron’s team improved in the game: the midfielders were more active; The full-backs exploited the space to get forward (good work from Dylan Gorosito); The attackers put more pressure on the gymnastics area. Boca continued its strong performance at the beginning of the extra period. At the age of 13, Gielini’s run from the right led to a penalty kick for Flores, which was converted by Kadijević.
Gymnasia’s reaction came immediately. The wait didn’t take long. After a short rest and change of directions on the field, one minute into the second extra time, they equalized with a tremendous shot from Leonel Troncoso that slid into Berri’s left corner. Minutes passed and everything was decided on penalties, where Zenize was more effective and won the penalty shootout 4-1. For Lobo, Troncoso and Zappola failed. In this way, he won the title and will play in the Champions Cup with Velez.