Cristal regains strength: Celestes were ‘The Strongest’ and revived in the Libertadores | CHRONICLE

Sporting Cristal, still far from being a machine and the winning force, found an important victory in another cup night full of emotions, not so pleasant until the final stretch, in which the match was played all or nothing. The result was the best: they got back on track in group D of the Copa Libertadores. He has 3 points, just like The Strongest (with the best goal difference) and River Plate (they received a resounding 5-1 on their visit to Fluminense).

The night began with the high tension charged over the weekend, after accumulating six games without winning against César Vallejo for Ligar 1 and what it entailed, with chants against the board by the fans. And ended with aNothing separates us, in good times or in bad” quite boisterous.

Lora’s time

The path to the goal was never clear, and Brenner Marlos only adds more criticism in each game. For now he has only shown that he is fighting in front of the goal. The one that did see the light was Jhilmar Lora at the end of the game. At 80 ′, as a center forward, he threw a scissors after a deflection by Bolivian Cristian Arano caused by a cross from Joao Grimaldo. The full-back didn’t even have time to smile and the referee called it offside. Nacional drowned out the goal cry while Lora went to claim from the linesman that he was authorized. Only the VAR could give justice, and from resignation he went on to celebrate only three minutes later, when the Uruguayan judge Leodán González corrected and confirmed the goal with the help of technology.

Cristal breathes in the Copa Libertadores and does not depend on anyone to do it, more than himself, and that is his biggest challenge. “Our tournament is now against The Strongest”, Nunes said after losing in the Más Monumental de Buenos Aires, without thinking that in two weeks he would win his first battle against the tabby team at a delicate moment, after making his position available in the middle of a negative streak that sparked sparks .

The Bajopontino team begins to get out of the mud of poor results. In the unpredictable Copa Libertadores, they placed third in group D of the Libertadores, with a better goal difference than River Plate and three fewer goals than the Bolivians. Fluminense with a perfect score plays without pressure towards the round of 16 and second place is available.

In the end, Cristal was ‘The Strongest’ in Lima when he was left for dead, but he continues to be immersed in uncertainties, among what could be a turning point after several relapses, in search of the ceiling that he has not yet reached under Tiago’s orders Nunes, or confirmation of another derailment before the terminal. This story deserves new chapters… May they all be joyful.