After several face-to-face confrontations, the college players recognized Willard's strength and could indeed defend them one-on-one.
But they are not fighting alone. If one person can't get past Velarde, then they should avoid Velarde or cooperate with the team.
No matter how good Velard is, his running speed can never catch up with the passing speed.
Just like the goal scored by the college student in the 17th minute, through team attack, Velarde had nothing to do. Even if he knows how the opponent will pass, run, and respond, he is still helpless.
Therefore, after scoring the first goal, the La Plata college students felt confident that they had found a way to deal with the Hurricanes, and were preparing to continue their efforts, attack crazily, and expand the score advantage.
At this time, Velarde took advantage of the opportunity of running to express his wishes to Lucas Villaruel, Gonzano Martinez, Jimen Mandarino, Toranso and others in the frontcourt. I hope they can strengthen the frequency and distance of back defense and enhance their defensive strength.
Because La Plata University students are stronger than Boca Juniors and Banfield. Boca Juniors may be more famous, but their form this season is mediocre and they are currently only ranked in the middle of the A-League. The Hurricanes' victory over Boca Juniors was due to luck, but also to the opponent's poor form.
The La Plata college students are indeed extraordinary and in excellent condition. With the Hurricanes' configuration of three defenders and a defensive midfielder, it is really difficult to block the impact of the opponent's four forwards and two midfielders.
Therefore, Willard hopes that the four offensive midfielders will increase their efforts to return to defense and help the defense.
Generally, 21-year-old young people may feel that they have lost face and want to get it back. But Willard was not like that. After realizing that the number of people in the backcourt was indeed insufficient to resist the opponent, he decisively called for help.
Of course, simply increasing the frequency and distance of Lucas and others' return defenses would go against the offensive tactics deployed by the head coach. Therefore, what Willard actually means is that everyone should increase the frequency of back-and-forth sprints between defense and offense. One consequence of this is that it will increase everyone's physical consumption.
But there is no way. If you are not as strong as your opponent, you can only fight for physical strength and attitude.
Willard himself will also increase his running distance and actively push forward when attacking to increase the ball release points for his teammates.
Football is a sport where strength speaks for itself. Although Velarde is young, his consecutive starts and outstanding performances have given him a lot of say in the locker room, and his teammates are willing to cooperate with him.
Velarde has become a bit like the core of the defense and a leader. Instead of simply defending alone, he has begun to exert his subjective initiative according to the game situation and direct his teammates to defend together.
This is a level higher than simply exerting one's own strength and silently doing one's own defensive tasks.
With the timely return of the frontcourt teammates, the Hurricanes' defense began to stabilize after making up for the lack of numbers, and was no longer easily broken by the opponent. Even if the opponent can avoid Villard, they cannot complete the breakthrough instantly, which can provide time for Villard to return to defense and fill the position.
In the 24th minute, college midfielder Damonte broke through Lucas Villaruel and passed the ball to forward Oski. It was Velard who was returning to defense who saw through the passing route and made a flying tackle halfway. Go.
Otherwise, if Oski gets the ball in the gap in the penalty area, it may become a highly threatening shot.
In addition to leading his teammates to actively defend, when given the opportunity to counterattack, Velarde also spared no effort in pushing forward and assisting.
In the 33rd minute, the Hurricanes got a good counterattack opportunity. Thomson Mira had already found a good gap in the penalty area. Unfortunately, Gonzano Martinez's pass was pushed by the opponent's player. The pass was slightly deflected due to interference, and Mira failed to stop the ball and grab a shot.
When Mira stopped the ball, adjusted it, and then started to hit the goal, the opponent's defender also returned to his position, flew to block the hole of the gun, and blocked the ball out of the baseline.
The Hurricanes failed to grab the first point on the ensuing corner kick, and were almost counterattacked by the opponent. Fortunately, Toranso made a tactical foul in time and shoveled the opponent's counterattacking player out of the sideline with the ball. Although he received a yellow card, it also interrupted the opponent's quick counterattack.
Otherwise, Willard and others just entered the opponent's penalty area due to the competition for the top, and were unable to return to defense in time. It might be really easy to lose the ball.
Now only one goal behind, there is hope of equalizing at any time. But if you're two goals behind, it's really difficult.
Although the La Plata college student tried his best to avoid Velarde, sometimes the ball was passed crookedly or the ball was cleared by his big feet. Velarde could still use his consciousness to judge the position or landing point, rush over and block it with his body. Stay in position and grab the ball.
Throughout the first half, Willard contributed as many as 3 direct steals and 4 clearances, and his performance was very eye-catching. The only pity is that the Hurricanes still failed to score a goal and fell behind 0-1.
Not only did the college students have great offensive strength, but the defense was also very stable and did not give the Hurricanes too many opportunities. In addition, Willard required his teammates in the midfield and frontcourt to return to defense. Even if everyone rushed back and forth desperately, it would inevitably affect the offense. In the end, only a few shots hit the goal frame, and all of them were saved or confiscated by the opponent's goalkeeper. Can score goals.
However, the performance of the Hurricanes Athletic Team was still recognized by the commentators and guests:
"In the first half, both sides had almost the same number of threatening attacks, but La Plata University students had better luck and scored a goal."
"Just looking at the process and situation, the two sides actually feel a bit evenly matched."
“To be able to play like this, Alan Willard of the Hurricanes deserves a lot of credit.”
"His sweep in the midfield neutralized most of the La Plata College students' attacks."
"The College Students team has four forwards. Facing a second-division team, they only scored one goal in the entire first half. In fact, their performance was a bit abnormal."
"Both sides still have to fight in the second half."
"If Willard can continue to show his ability and status in the first half, and the Hurricanes' offensive line is stronger in the second half, the result will be unpredictable."
"Maybe the Hurricanes Athletic Team can really overturn the Class A team again, pull off an upset and advance to the semi-finals."
In the locker room, Mario Binco also praised everyone's performance in the first half and did not criticize everyone for falling behind.
Facing Universidad de La Plata, which is ranked 6th in the A-League standings, it was very good to be able to play like this in the first half. The situation was evenly matched and the score was only one goal behind.
Of course, Mario Binco also said that the Argentinian Cup is a determined game, and there is no possibility of regaining ground in the second round. Therefore, if the Hurricanes want to move forward and compete for the championship, they must win this game. They must score in the second half, at least equalize the score and drag it into overtime.
After a fierce battle in the first half, Velarde, who is in good physical condition, is still fine, but midfielders Lucas Villaruel, Gonzano Martinez, Djimon Mandarino and others are a bit... Unbearable.
They not only have to return to defense to help Villard and others defend, but also have to rush forward greatly when attacking, sprinting back and forth, which consumes a lot of physical energy.
Fortunately, now that we have entered the intermission, everyone can take the opportunity to take a rest and replenish their physical fitness. Otherwise, I really don’t know how long it can last.
Even so, Toranso said bluntly that he might not be able to last the whole game, and the coach should be ready to replace him at any time in the second half.
Mario Binco nodded and said: "No problem, you have already received a yellow card anyway. Don't be stingy with your physical fitness in the second half. Take on more defensive and offensive tasks. If you feel that you can't hold on, let me substitute." Bar!"
In addition, Binko also gave some specific instructions on defense and offense in the second half. Then, the second half of the game began.
The two sides continued to fight fiercely, and no one backed down.
The Hurricanes Athletic Team had no choice, after all, they were the one behind. The La Plata University students wanted to score another goal to seal the victory, and then slow down the attack and retreat.
In the 59th minute, Universidad almost expanded the score. Forward Carrillo's direct free kick went over the wall and hit the crossbar. It bounced back into the penalty area and was cleared by Elam Spey.
If the ball had been any lower, it would have hit the lower edge of the crossbar and bounced directly into the goal.
Whether it was Carrillo who took the free throw, his teammates, or the home fans in the stands, they all felt a great pity. The Hurricanes players and fans on the road felt like they had escaped.
The Hurricanes' luck was not only helped by this crossbar.
In the 67th minute, the college student made a big clearance in the backcourt, and the ball flew to the Hurricanes' backcourt. College student forward Joaquin Correa and Hurricanes midfielder Alan Willard rushed toward the ball's landing point at the same time.
The two rushed to the landing point at the same time. Although Joaquín Correa as the center is slightly taller than Velarde by a few centimeters, Velarde's jumping ability is better than his opponent. More importantly, Velarde's unhesitating and indomitable momentum of fighting for the top stopped Joaquin Correa and made the opponent hesitate a little.
As a result, Velard jumped up and grabbed the ball, and gave it to his teammate Echeberria who was connecting from the side, and got the ball. Joaquín Correa, on the other hand, took off a step late and could only push Velarde in the air, causing him to stumble when he landed, but it had no effect.
Echeberria, who received the ball, faced the opponent's forward Oski's counterattack and did not stick to the ball. Instead, he decisively passed the ball to Toranso who was receiving from the wing.
Toranso, who returned to defense at high speed but failed to make a difference, stopped the car. After receiving the ball, he immediately turned around and sprinted with the ball, launching a counterattack.
Just as the head coach asked him at halftime, he must use up all his energy before leaving the field.
As a result, it was in this counterattack that Toranso sprinted without slowing down, passed the ball first and broke through the interception of the opponent's midfielder Roman Martinez, and then played a wall-to-wall coordination with teammate Espinosa. , successfully broke through the opponent's full-back De Sabato, and then made a pass.
Hurricanes center Thomson Mira rushed into the University penalty area, leaped high, overwhelmed the opponent's center back Jonajan Shunk, and hit the goal with a powerful header, heading the ball to the left of the University goal. side.
The ball was too powerful, too fast, and not far from the goal. Although goalkeeper Hilario Navarro responded immediately with a save, he still failed to touch the ball and could only watch the ball. Access the network.
"Goooooooooooooooooooooal..."
"The ball went in!!!"
"The Hurricanes scored!"
"Thomson Mira!"
"Toranso received the ball from the backcourt and ran for more than 50 meters. He made a pass and helped Thomson Mira score a header in the penalty area!"
"Hurricane Athletic finally scored and tied the score at 1-1."
"Both sides are on the same starting line."
"Hurricane Athletics really has the possibility of another upset, defeating the top teams in Class A and advancing to the semi-finals!"
