De Santis has no game or goal: Alianza’s UnoxUno in a tie that could condemn them in the Cup | ANALYSIS

De Santis, 21 years old, 93 meters tall, is a picturesque ‘9’, capable of going from compassion to rejection in a few minutes. He arrived at Alianza Lima at the last minute to cover Pablo Sabbag’s injury and ended up starting in the Cup without deserving it: he has played nine games and has not scored a single goal, he did give two good assists.

Against Cerro he had a couple of chances at the beginning, but ended up wasting the chances in an incredible way. One can appreciate their desire to reverse their situation, but Alianza is a club that cannot afford to wait for anyone, much less playing in the Libertadores, a tournament that every year is a dagger in the heart: not only have the intimates not won in this edition, but they have not been able to achieve a victory at home since 2012.

Beating the Paraguayan team was not only a necessity, but an obligation. But without weight in attack, it is almost impossible. With four games played, the intimates barely have three points and are last in their group. This is the UnoxUno of the tie that condemns those led by Restrepo.

An insecure defense

Perhaps it is due to the disposition of the players on the field because Alianza, unlike the previous games in which it was very defensive, did not play with five at the back but three. The two wingers (Serna and Freytes) almost always had offensive functions and left their backs exposed. And in that scenario, Jiovany Ramos, the stopper on the right, showed many flaws: he lost divided and they beat him very easily. Carlos Zambrano also did not have a good night when it came to covering the Panamanian. The ‘Lion’ suffered more than necessary. The same on the left with Garcés, who had a hard time settling into the game.

Ángelo Campo was not directly responsible for the visiting goal, but he was able to do something more in a rained cross like the one connected by the Argentine Juan Iturbe, who is 73 meters tall.

In the second half, with an Alianza totally desperate for a tie, playing whatever it took, the close defenders suffered counterattacks and had to stop each action with fouls. Of course, the referee of the match, the Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela, let the Paraguayans hit in each division. Little judgment to direct.

Rodríguez must take risks

“It is the position in which he feels most comfortable”, they assure from Matute. Installed as an anchor but without a brand, Sebastián Rodríguez is in charge of orchestrating each Alliance attack. The problem is that there are few times in which he risks a pass between the lines, he only tries to open spaces by playing to the sides. Of course, he did a lot of damage with his crosses, in fact he was the one who assisted Barcos in the goal.

Cristian Neira and Catriel Cabellos They were his companions in that inverted triangle in the middle. Both of them with irregular performance. Neira started well, looking for space and being dangerous, but it faded as the minutes passed. Cabellos ran more than he played. He was up, in the middle and down, tireless, but it’s no use having kilometers covered if he doesn’t contribute in the defensive or offensive phase.

Kevin Serna He played almost like a midfielder on the wing. He was the best in the first half on the right. Intractable, a headache for his marker. He did and undid as he wanted, but the chances he created were missed by Barcos or De Santis. In the second half, in the midst of the confusion, he also got lost. He asked his companions for a moment’s peace but he let himself be carried away by the hurricane of desperation and disappeared.

Freytes, on the left, ran and fought like few others. But he was inaccurate in all of his crosses or in his attacks trying to connect with a header. Once again: his effort is appreciated, but that is not enough in a tournament as competitive as the Cup.

Without weight in attack

Little more can be said about Jeriel de Santis. And next to him was Hernán Barcos. The 41-year-old Argentine had a hard time overcoming his markers. He had the first one on his feet, but he missed it. Then he made the wrong decisions when giving a pass. What cannot be denied is that he is a leader. He always showed his support for De Santis on the field.

The changes in attack were of no use either. Gabriel Costa entered, but had absolutely no influence on anything. In fact, he wasted some attacks because of the apathy with which he played. Zanelatto tried based on his speed, but could not unbalance.

With the goal in the 80th minute, Alianza was excited about the victory, but couldn’t. He almost took the three points. And that is the word that characterizes this first semester of the intimate club: almost. Although to compete that – it is clear – is not enough.