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This Wednesday, Deportes Tolima, leader of the Colombian championship, visited the Nicolás Chahuán Stadium to face Unión La Calera, a team that is the leader of the Chilean championship, in the duel corresponding to the first leg of the second phase of the South American Cup, which finished tied 0-0.
In a field without spectators, and with important casualties for the visit such as those of Jaminton Campaz, Jonathan Marulanda and Julián Quiñones, the pijao team began the game playing hand in hand with the southern team. In the 8th minute, the Ibagué native team had the first clear opportunity to open the scoring. Ómar Albornoz received great assistance between the lines from Danovis Banguero, which left him alone on the left side with goalkeeper Alexis Martín Arias, who, before the arrival of the Colombian left-hander, shortened well and stopped the shot that ended in a corner kick. Albornoz was able to pass the ball to Andrey Estupiñán, who arrives only through the center, but preferred to play the individual.
Tolima, with a good handling of the ball and quick recovery in the middle of the court, little by little began to take over the game, thus overshadowing the tactical work of Unión La Calera, who could not find the way or the way to generate opportunities the Gol.
Those led by Hernán Torres returned to warn, and with Juan Pablo Nieto finishing from the middle distance, the alarms were turned on again in the local portico.
After half an hour of play, the Chilean team reacted and began to show their locality with a collective game in the rival area, however, the pijao team knew how to counter the attack, and without taking greater risk, ended the first half with the goal at zero. Yeison Gordillo and Jean Pestaña saw the yellow card.
In the second half, Unión La Calera looked much better standing on the court, and with more depth in the game, he began to attack the spaces left by Deportes Tolima.
In the 51st minute, Gonzalo Castellani, former Atlético Nacional, in an elaborate play with a still ball, took a powerful shot from medium distance, which was saved with authority by Álvaro Montero, who stretched and sent the ball to the corner kick.
Tolima responded, and four minutes later he approached Arias’ goal again. Nilson Castrillón overflowed down the right wing and crossed for Juan Fernando Caicedo, who headed the ball into the hands of the Argentine goalkeeper.
Unión La Calera did not let up, and again approached the goalkeeper’s goal of the Colombian National Team. Arriving at minute 60, Álvaro Montero prevented Andrés Vilches from scoring the first goal for the Chilean team. Great opportunity for the locals, who, minutes later, tried again from medium distance, again with Castellani, but Montero was well placed and conceded the shot without any problem.
Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s team, who went from less to more in the game, continued to attack the Tolima team, but did not manage to violate the arc of the Pijaos, who in the second half took refuge, losing the intensity and depth that they had shown in the first 45.
With Álvaro Montero as one of the outstanding players, Hernán Torres’s men obtained a good result during their visit to Chile, and with the 0-0 obtained, they will define the key to the round of 32 of the Copa Sudamericana next Tuesday, November 3 at the Manuel Murillo Toro.
