Sebastian Rodriguez, the most consistent player in the 2020 campaign of Emelec, was a key piece in the system designed by Spanish coach Ismael Rescalvo for the visit to Union de Santa Fe stadium (1-0) in Argentina, where the Ecuadorian team won and resurged their spirits, but they still need to improve their performance.
Emelec achieved a therapeutic victory in the first leg of the second phase of the Copa Sudamericana-2020 thanks to the only goal scored by Uruguayan Facundo Barceló (minute 42) in a set piece taken by his compatriot Rodríguez.
"Very good victory that serves to keep growing as a group. Now, return to Guayaquil and prepare for what's to come," wrote Rodríguez on his Twitter account at the end of the match on Argentine soil.
Very good victory that serves to keep growing as a group. Now, return to Guayaquil and prepare for what's to come -------- #VamosBombillo https://t.co/REDx2M8XN4
— Sebastián Rodríguez (@Sebas_r8) October 30, 2020
The 28-year-old midfielder, born in Canelones, made a difference in Rescalvo's starting lineup, which surprised with the inclusion of veteran Óscar Bagüí (37 years old) at left-back, completing a line of four in the defense (from left to right) with Aníbal Leguizamón, Marlon Mejía, and Romario Caicedo.
Bagüí, a four-time national champion with the blue and yellow team, did not disappoint despite having played only 25 minutes in 2020. His last performance was in the Copa Sudamericana against Blooming from Bolivia in the second qualifying round on February 20.
Rodríguez, the Uruguayan, has not missed a single game of the season so far: fifteen as a starter in phase 1 and three as a starter in phase 2. He has scored two goals.
"It is a difficult moment for the team, and this victory is very important. The value we give to it is enormous, first to achieve the goal of trying to advance and above all, it will be a boost for the team in the local league," said Rodríguez after the victory against Union.
'A team intense and focused in recent weeks'
After facing the Santa Fe team on Thursday night, Emelec's coach, Spanish Ismael Rescalvo, highlighted the commitment and attitude of his players to reverse the situation in which Emelec found itself after their last two results in the local league. He also praised Bagüí's performance, who had not played since February.
"I am happy with his performance (Bagüí's) because he is a player who adds to the team, who contributes to the group, to the collective. When he has to play, he is always ready, and he showed it today, as he did last year with Flamengo," Rescalvo said in the press conference.
Rescalvo added: "Óscar had been working very well, I saw him close to the starting eleven weeks ago. Today I decided to put him because he had been working very well, training at a very good pace, and I knew that in his position he could bring us experience and communication."
Regarding the team's performance, the blue coach stated: "We saw a commitment from the entire team to defend. I believe the team played a very complete game, with a lot of character, and as I said, we haven't achieved anything yet, now we have to focus on Sunday's important match (against Aucas) and take it step by step."
Rescalvo, who has been heavily criticized for the team's results in the previous phase 1 of the LigaPro Serie A, finishing eleventh with 16 points, and for the last two games of phase 2, said that Emelec, for much of the match, showed "great solidity" against the Argentine players of Union.
"In the last few weeks, we have been playing with intensity, concentration, and defensive determination that allows us to keep a clean sheet," the Spaniard referred.
The electric team must travel to Quito to visit Aucas on Sunday (15:15) at the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda stadium, as part of the fourth round of the championship. (D)