The key to Junior's 2-1 victory over Deportivo Cali last night was on the bench and his name was Luis Díaz. Coach Alexis Mendoza decided to bring in the Guajiro in the 32nd minute of the first half when his team was losing 1-0 and couldn't find a way to at least get closer to the sugarcane fields.
Díaz entered in the worst scenario, with Junior losing 1-0 since the 9th minute of the first half with a goal from Didier Delgado and playing a discreet game. Cali's goal had originated from a run down the right by Nicolás Benedetti, who set up Delgado, who entered the Junior area unmarked and finished well past Sebastián Viera.
Delgado himself had the second goal for the Verdiblancos in the minute, after another assist from Benedetti, but this time the Cali player sent the ball into the air.
Junior was a team without direction, without spark and without inventiveness. Cali played comfortably, without worries, because they were hardly attacked by the home team. That's when Alexis decided to send Luis Díaz onto the field and exclude James Sánchez. It was the 32nd minute of the first half and the red-and-white coach did something unusual for him.
Díaz's entrance changed the game for Junior. The Guajiro, in his first appearance, played a one-two with Luis Carlos Ruiz, who put him face to face with goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, who closed him down well and saved Díaz's shot. Theodore Gutiérrez took the rebound and only had to push it to equalize in the 36th minute.
Synopsis:
Junior: Sebastián Viera (6); David Murillo (5), Jonathan Ávila (6), Alberto Rodríguez (6), Germán Gutiérrez (6); Luis Narváez (6), James Sánchez (6), Sebastián Hernández (7), Yimmi Chará (6), Teófilo Gutiérrez (6); Luis Carlos Ruiz (7).
Coach Alexis Mendoza
Substitutions: Luis Díaz (8) for Sánchez (32nd minute of the first half), Leonardo Pico for Hernández (26th minute of the second half), Jorge Aguirre for T. Gutiérrez (32nd minute of the second half).
Cali: Camilo Vargas (6); Didier Delgado (6), Danny Rosero (6), Jhon Lucumí (6), Jeison Angulo (6); Daniel Giraldo (6), Kevin Balanta (6), Abel Aguilar (5), Nicolás Benedetti (6), Jhon Mosquera (5); José Sand (5).
Coach Gerardo Pelusso
Substitutions: Andrés Pérez for Aguilar (18th minute of the second half), Pablo Sabbag for Benedetti (35th minute of the second half), Jown Cardona for Mosquera (39th minute of the second half).
Match: good
Goals: Junior: T. Gutiérrez (36th minute of the first half), Ruiz (19th minute of the second half)
Cali: Delgado (9th minute of the first half)
Booked: Junior: Murillo
Cali: Rosero, Giraldo
Key player: Luis Díaz (8)
Referee: Nicolás Gallo (7)
MANUEL ORTEGA PONCE
ADN Writer
Barranquilla