This Wednesday at 8:00 PM at the Palmaseca stadium, the second leg of the Copa Colombia match between Deportivo Cali and Deportivo Independiente Medellín will be played, a series that is tied 1-1.
The sugar team arrives battered to this match, after losing at home against Deportes Tolima last Sunday. This is a tournament that can save the year for the green team from Cali, since the winner of the Copa Colombia gets a ticket to the Copa Sudamericana for the year 2018. The team led by Héctor Cárdenas has set the goal of reaching another final this year. This qualification could be a balm for the players and the green and white fans. The sugar team was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana and currently sits in eighth position in the league.
"On Wednesday we have a semifinal, which could lead us to the doorstep of the title, that's why we have to play with our heads held high," said Nicolás Benedetti referring to the match against DIM.
Coach Héctor Cárdenas has called up 20 players for Wednesday's Copa Colombia match and the main novelty is the return of Mayer Cándelo to the team, who is eligible for the cup. The homegrown players Cesar Amaya and Jow Cardona were called up in place of Alex Castro and Pablo Sabbag. The called-up players are as follows:
Medellín, for the spot in the grand final
With respect to the starting lineup that lost 1-2 in the 13th round of the Liga II against Rionegro Águilas, coach Juan José Peláez would make two changes: Andres Felipe Álvarez would replace Sebastián Macías, who did not travel with the squad, and Juan Fernando Quintero would take the place of Daniel Cataño.
"Although we haven't won at home, we know how to handle it as visitors: we eliminated Deportivo Pasto and Independiente Santa Fe, two very tough rivals for the spot and the good teams they have. The need will be for Cali; we must exploit the options and spaces we have as visitors," said Eduard Atuesta.
The midfielder stated that one of the goals set by the 'mighty' for this semester was to fight for the title of the Copa Colombia for the spot it gives to the international tournament. Although DIM is not in a positive moment due to three winless matches, there is desire and conviction in the squad to leave that adverse streak behind.
"We don't see it as revenge because you could say that we are also going to get revenge on them. We have to be intelligent in managing the match: they won't get into the last quarter of the field like in Medellín, they will have to stop their defense in the middle of the field. We would have spaces, where we are important with our technique and potential to attack. We already beat them 1-3 away in the league," added Eduard.
Finally, Atuesta referred to what Peláez said about Mauricio Molina, who reappeared in the call-up for the match against the 'sugar growers' and will be an option for the coach on the bench, in the press conference after the defeat against Rionegro in the Atanasio Girardot stadium.
"This is a mature group that has to overcome any circumstances. We have gone three matches without a win, and it's no secret to anyone, it's something abnormal for us and shouldn't happen. We know what we can give and the players we have, we are going to give 100% as professionals that we are to move this project forward," he concluded.
Possible lineups:
Cali: Pablo Mina; Didier Delgado, Danny Rosero, Néstor Moiraghi, Jeison Angulo; Andrés Pérez, Kevin Balanta, Mayer Cándelo, Andrés Roa; Miguel Murillo, Jefferson Duque. Coach: Héctor Cárdenas.
Medellín: David González; Jonathan Lopera, Rodrigo Erramuspe, Santiago Echeverría, Andrés Felipe Álvarez; Didier Moreno, Eduard Atuesta; Yairo Moreno, Juan Fernando Quintero, Valentín Viola; Leonardo Castro. Coach: Juan José Peláez.
JUAN ANTONIO BERNARDI M.
Futbolred Cali Correspondent
Twitter: @Bernardifutbol
JULIANA SOSA GÓNGORA
Futbolred Medellín Correspondent
Twitter: @julysosag