Huracán breaks losing streak against Estudiantes
When referee Juan Pablo Pompei pointed his arms to the sky and brought an end to the night of football in Parque Patricios, Huracán squeezed his fists tightly and finally broke his three-game losing streak. Applause descended from all three sectors of the Tomás Adolfo Ducó and tranquility was felt. But it wasn't easy.
Estudiantes presented itself as a tough opponent. The team from La Plata had gone without stumbling this year. And last night, their coach Lucas Bernardi fielded an alternative lineup, keeping an eye on their debut in the Copa Libertadores next Wednesday against Nacional from Uruguay.
Huracán played with heart and determination. At the end of the first half, Alfaro and his players still seemed to be without direction. The one that guided them to the consistency they had at the end of the year and placed them among the top teams. They hovered between the imminent danger of relegation and the lure of having a 2019 with international competitions. In the first half, the home team had possession and field advantage, but lacked ideas against an Estudiantes that, under Bernardi's guidance, focused on being a solid defensive block. Thus, they hindered Gastón Fernández and Mariano Pavone's ability to create danger in Marcos Díaz's area.
With their hearts in their hands, but without many offensive resources, Huracán continued to search for a goal. Nicolás Silva, who had a lack of lucidity in the first half, cleverly took advantage of the ball's bounce in the opponent's area and set up Ignacio Pussetto's goal. The former Atlético Rafaela player, always a threat to the Plata team's defense (and especially to Fabián Noguera), finished across the goal and celebrated for the sixth time in the tournament. He was awarded the best player of the match. Tireless, self-sufficient, and thoughtful. All of these qualities fit perfectly with the brave number seven.
When the match reached the 25th minute of the second half, the lights at the Ducó Stadium went off. They returned twenty minutes later. However, Estudiantes never managed to shine. Bernardi continued to try to make an impact by bringing offensive-minded players onto the field. The away team remained unresponsive, lost its unbeaten record, and Huracán managed the remaining minutes until the final relief.