De Santis does not finish and Zambrano roars in defense: the UnoxUno of an Alianza that does not convince in the Cup but at home can dream of qualifying

A while ago, not long ago, the result could have been different. A heavy defeat perhaps. Something that the Peruvian teams had us badly accustomed to when they went out to play the Copa Libertadores. According to statistician Jesús Chirinos, our teams have recorded eleven draws in their last 41 visits to the competition. A figure that shows us where we are. But that seems to be changing. And Alianza Lima’s goalless draw in Chile against Colo Colo is an example of this. Competing, in the Cup, with the weapons that each team has, is easy, much less visiting.

“We played two very good games and that is the way”, analyzed a few days ago Bruno Marioni, sports director of the blue and white club. The Argentine referred to the 1-1 draw against Fluminense in the debut and the loss against Cerro Porteño in Paraguay with a goal at the last minute. Two matches in which Alianza showed a pattern in its game that it repeated in this first part of the tournament, even against the Colocolino team: an ultra-defensive approach, prioritizing taking care of its goal before seeking the goal.

Knowing itself inferior, knowing its weaknesses and strengths, Alianza rescued a valuable point in Santiago. “They were never a rival for us,” says Arturo Vidal, star of the local team, in his post-match analysis. The Chilean star thus criticized the intimate game: almost always with five defenders close to goalkeeper Ángelo Campos and with the three midfielders also very close together. Lines together, with a lot of sacrifice to run from side to side and attention to intercept each pass.

Alianza suffered, something logical when you decide to play like that, but they also knew how to handle the game from that stage. Colo Colo gave, according to Opta, 677 passes, a record for a Chilean team in the Cup. Fluminense, in Matute, made 774 passes, an absolute record since the British sports analysis company took data from the South American competition. That is to say, the intimates allowed that: that the rival has it, moves from side to side, but that they do not generate danger. Flu shot the goal twice, Cerro the same and at home, and the Cacique only shot four times at Campos’ porch.

The intimates got a golden point in Santiago, although they are still in the last box of group A with two units in three dates. A tie that is argued from the security of Campos, the hierarchy of Zambrano and the sacrifice of Zanelatto, Serna and Rodríguez. And, of course, also from the incredible goal missed by Jeriel de Santis in one of the last plays of the game. Below is the UnoxUno of the meeting.

The increasingly solid defense

Angelo Campos He didn’t have much work. She shortcutted what was necessary. He always sober. He broke out in a cold sweat when Guillermo Paiva’s shot, a Colocolino striker, hit his left post, or when Bolados’ shot grazed the crossbar. But afterwards, the locals had little fear. And that is due to the great defensive work of Restrepo’s team.

Carlos Zambrano It is a bastion. A ‘Lion’ that roars in the Copa Libertadores. As a libero or first center back. It depends on what the party asks for. The Peruvian defender was attentive to watch the backs of Garcés and Ramos, made six clearances and was a nightmare for the attackers. Total hierarchy.

Renzo Garces, for its part, once again showed its solidity. He blocked three shots, intercepted three times. He won six of nine duels, according to SofaScore statistics. It was the necessary help for Freytes who suffered in the second half with balls behind his back. On the other hand, Ramos made few mistakes and that is a credit to him. He was correct, always doing what the play demanded. He improved a lot.

Zanelatto He started as a winger on the right, although in some passages in the first half he stood higher up, accompanying the midfielders. Then it became interior. In any of the positions in which he played against Colo Colo, he performed in a great way. It was one of his best games in a blue and white shirt. He focused on the brand, sacrificing every drop of sweat to chase rivals and with the physicality to attack against.

In the other side, Juan Pablo Freytes shows its regularity. He suffered in the second half, but recovered almost immediately to provide security for his side. And he had physical rest to accompany some attacks and then return to defend. He was the most demanded because Colo Colo focused his attacks on his band, yet he responded with the help of Garcés.

A medium with a lot of sacrifice, but without game

That Arturo Vidal left the game uncomfortable is largely due to the work of Sebastián Rodríguez. In fact, in the last minutes the Chilean kicked the Uruguayan from behind, as a gesture of helplessness, and earned the yellow card so he will not be in the next match against Fluminense. The Mustache was Vidal’s shadow. He defended very well. He ordered. But he had little participation with the ball at his feet.

Catriel Cabellos and Jesús Castillo ran from one side to the other. They scored, they pressed. That’s why they were changed in the second half, because of the work done. But with the ball at their feet they were null and void. They didn’t contribute and lost balls incredibly. Arregui and Moyano entered with the same conviction: defend.

Serna missed Waterman

He played the entire game practically alone. He was accompanied, according to the roster, by Hernán Barcos in the first half and then by Jeriel de Santis. But Serna fought, ran, generated everything alone. He was about to score. The big problem to correct for the Colombian nationalized Peruvian is the peace of mind to define. Maybe taking one more second – it’s easy to say from the couch in front of the TV – could benefit you. But still, he managed to make a great play in the final minutes that De Santis completely devoured. The Venezuelan with Peruvian roots had the 1-0 at his feet but sent his shot into the stands. The worst thing was not where the ball ended up, but how he hit it before the rival goalkeeper came out, almost like a shot. On the substitute bench, coach Alejandro Restrepo couldn’t believe it. And, surely, no Alianza Lima fan either.

Alianza is in last place in group A with two points. But he can come back and dream of qualifying. Now they will play two home games (first Cerro Porteño and then Colo Colo, both in Matute). The task now is to change the posture in which they face the matches: stop being defensive to propose from the first minute in search of victory. Ties will no longer be of any use to those close to you.