Gymnastics returned from Viaducto with a victory that is worth an hour, got rid of an uncomfortable game and celebrates the three points a lot. How can you not celebrate?! If today you will look at the annual table with different eyes after having bet a plenary session on this match. As much as Arsenal is not a direct rival (due to its limitations, it seems almost doomed to be one of the declines in the average table) this was a game to win and it did so, leaving the most purist and strict analyzes for another chance.
It is obvious that it was not a good match. One of those matches that inevitably go 0-0 until there is a virtue or an error. And both coincided in the 43rd minute, when Cristian Tarragona wanted to score from a free kick, spied through the hole in the barrier and took a dry shot that hit Medina in the middle of the goal, a bit because of the sun in against, much more because of the goalkeeper’s mistake. But the goals are made by those who dare to kick and Tarra assumed, again as in the classic, a responsibility. Not as big as that afternoon. Equally successful, for his first free kick shout with the blue and white jersey.
It was an early game with few spaces and a lot of friction. Gymnastics tried to put their men in the opposite field and Arsenal assumed a counterattacking stance. Almost without arrivals, Cristian Tarragona was the most mobile player of the Wolf, turning to the wings to look for spaces and play.
The Wolf had a hard time finding someone to take charge of the ball. The absence of Alan Lescano generated this lack of football, since the initial formation did not have a natural game generator. For this reason, between midfielders who collided and long balls, it was very difficult to disturb goalkeeper Alejandro Medina.
Between the desire and the effort, there was almost no room for the game. Gymnastics did not find a way to connect midfield and attack, while the local exhibited all its shortcomings. A poorly executed free kick by Lautaro Guzmán generated a rebound that was left for Daniel Lucero, whose shot was deflected against the left-handed barrel of the tripero goal.
Immediately, Cristian Tarragona withstood the onslaught of two defenders and defined but narrowed Medina well and prevented the opening of the scoring. After that action, the Tripero seemed to wake up and began to prowl the rival area. And just at that good moment came the opening of the scoring. Tarragona was encouraged to look for the goal with a free kick from the left that was for a left-footed center and surprised Medina with that ball going into the middle of the goal. With the 1-0 draw, Lobo was able to handle the afternoon at Viaducto in a different way and change what seemed to be its unavoidable destiny for the game.
Gymnastics came out in the complement with the same dominant tone at the end of the first stage. He almost had a prize when on the first play, when Tarragona failed to hit a full header on a cross from the left after a good action by Melluso.
Moncho Ruíz put the Portuguese Luis Leal, but to play on the far right, trying to force the actions. However, Gymnastics, structured well in defense, did not pass big suffocating, although in offense the ball did not last too long.
A very good individual action by Enrique ended in the corner when he rejected a defender after the center close to the player from Corrientes. From the still ball, a great header from Tarragona forced a desperate slap from Medina. A great save that made up for his responsibility in Tarra’s goal.
In addition to the goal, Tarragona had a one-on-one and a barbaric header that Medina took from him
Gimnasia and Arsenal lost the ball, with his desperation and the punches he locked up the Wolf around half an hour into the game. Half a length advanced by the Colombian Flabián Londoño on the position of Bruno Palazzo saved Chirola’s team from a tie, because the former River striker had converted with a very good header.
It was an optical illusion of the local, who pushed more than he attacked, to the point that the Albiauzl goalkeeper had little work. The concern, in any case, was that Gymnastics was exposed to a stopped ball, an error, something that would ruin the afternoon.
With time up, Lucas Brochero put Melluso to sleep, appearing behind him and the shot went very high over the crossbar. It was a very dangerous play that luckily for the Wolf remained an anecdote.
Did Gymnastics win well? In a weak match he did more than his rival to achieve victory and in addition to Tarragona’s goal he had the other two clearer scoring chances. Chirola’s team played less than in other victories (Estudiantes, Racing, Argentinos) and even than in some draws and losses, but this victory is worth a lot from the mental point of view and gives air, support and confidence to the players and coaching staff who gave it the body to a very difficult semester. And they are pushing it forward.
