A year ago the University Olympic Stadium witnessed one of the best tournaments in Pumas, a comeback of four goals in the semifinal and saw them fall in the final, all this before empty stands and a sound that sought to imitate the cheers and chants of the fans. In Apertura 2021, as the university team navigated in the contest and their performance went from less to more until they reached the semifinals, the gray stands faded and were painted blue and gold instead.
Atlas beat Pumas 1-0 with a goal from Julio Furch in the first leg for the semifinals of the Apertura 2021 tournament, in a stage packed with fans that did not do justice to the official figure of almost 49,000 attendees.
The University Olympic Stadium was the last to open its doors to the fans but the first to allow a capacity of 100% after the cancellation of the contest in 2020. According to the local sound, 48,976 fans congested the south of the city to support the team of the Pedregal, although the stadium for 70,000 looked packed. 1,900 elements were required between auxiliary police, private security, medical services and civil protection to safeguard the assistants.
It is the Pumas’ first semifinal with an audience present since the 2018 Apertura tournament and ticket costs at least doubled at resale; The parking lots were filled three hours before the kickoff whistle and even opening the doors in advance, within minutes of starting the match, a dozen security elements were trying to keep up some railings that the fans were trying to knock down by pushing each other to be able to access the cauldron area.
The locals’ technical director, Andrés Lillini, started with a 4-4-2 formation, the same one he used in the quarterfinals against the América club and that was enough to get the result in the second leg.
The first quarter of the game was dominated by the rojinegros and as the match unfolded, the local team began to balance in possession of the ball and generation of chances in the opponent’s small area. Sebastián Saucedo was looking to create danger on the left wing, but his teammates were not up to par, making it impossible to find a finisher in a good position.
In turn, playing in the front half of the court, an experienced Julio César Furch distributed the ball. Near the first 45 minutes, the Argentine connected with Quiñones so that he placed the ball in front of Alfredo Talavera’s goal, with a strong shot, Furch put the 1-0 on the scoreboard before going to rest.
Pumas tried to turn around with modifications in the second half, the first change was that of Diogo de Oliveira for Saucedo and later José Rogério for Washington Corozo and Higor Meritão for Leonel López entered, but neither took effect against what was the best defense of the tournament.
“We lacked precision in everything that is the movement of the ball, we received a lot from the back in the first half, we held little, then it was very difficult for us to get out quickly. We have to improve those fine points, they are games with technical details, receptions, orientations, forward passes, I believe a lot in those things in these games that are so close against very good defensive systems ”, Lillini analyzed.
In this way, the Pumas are obliged to score at least two goals in the Jalisco Stadium in the second leg next Sunday, as the tie would pass Atlas by position in the table. The rojinegros seek to make history and return to their first final in 22 years.
“We are changing history and for that we have to put our feet on the ground and have a lot of humility and this is what this team has. Today the defense stands out because they score us few goals but the first defense is the forwards, they all run, they help, of course we have to keep improving, have more effectiveness, a better goal. Julio shows up when we need him; Camilo takes a goal ball; the centrals give themselves to the maximum, there are many strengths and we continue to build what we have been doing since we arrived, for me teams are built from the back to the front, that helps you attack better and with more people “, said Diego Cocca, director Fox coach.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx