After a streak of eleven games without joy (nine draws and two defeats), Saint Lawrence achieved an important 1-0 away victory against Defensa y Justicia that allows it to continue in the race to qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores. The victory left Rubén Darío Insúa’s team one point away (61 to 62) in the annual table of Rosario Central and Godoy Cruz, the last teams that are entering the international competition. Therefore, classification will be possible if San Lorenzo scores more points against Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero than those from Rosario and Mendoza on the last date of the League Cup, which will be played within two weeks after the presidential ballot.
While, With the defeat, the fifth in the last nine games, Defensa lost its chances of qualifying for the Libertadores, but secured a place in the Sudamericana 2024. At the beginning, the local team had the initiative. But then it began to fade, always within the framework of a highly contested, close match with a lot of friction.
San Lorenzo, for its part, maintained order, but had a hard time holding on in attack. His first more or less dangerous arrival was in the last part of the first half, with a free kick from Iván Leguizamón that it contained Fiermarin, the Uruguayan Defense goalkeeper. The Barça posture at the start of the second half changed completely. Or maybe it was a continuation of those final handful of minutes of the first half. The entry of Gonzalo Maroni for Campi gave him another fluidity in the midfield, Barrios looked more active, and Bareiro found partners in attack.
And that good Sanlorencista first quarter was reflected with the opening of the scoreboard, at 15 minutes, after a counterattack in which San Lorenzo stepped into the rival area with many players and The entered Maroni pushed a shot by Bareiro into the net.
After the impact of the goal, the Defensa y Justicia coach, Julio Vaccari, immediately sought his team’s reaction with a couple of variants, such as the entry of Nicolás “Uvita” Fernández. However, Ciclón managed the process until the end, and knew how to defend themselves in the last minutes after Giay’s expulsionfor a great shot at the request of the VAR.
San Lorenzo and Defensa will play again for one of the Argentine Cup semifinals, perhaps next week and in the middle of the FIFA date for the South American Qualifiers. The match could take place at the Unico Diego Armando Maradona stadium in La Plata.
The post first appeared on www.pagina12.com.ar
