Unable to launch a threatening attack for a long time, Lima Union's formation unconsciously pressed higher and higher, trying to increase the intensity of the attack with its numerical advantage.
However, this will naturally create larger gaps and holes in their defense, giving the Hurricanes more opportunities to counterattack.
In the 21st minute, Lucas Villaruel also sent a long pass after getting the ball, and almost assisted Avila to score, which scared the Lima League players and fans.
But even so, the home team could not stop the attack. After all, they are the ones behind now. We can only strengthen our counterattack and defense when we lose the ball, and try not to let the Hurricanes counterattack into their penalty area and form a real threat.
It was under such circumstances that in the 26th minute, when the Hurricanes stole the ball again and launched a quick counterattack, and Toranso broke through to the top of the penalty area with the ball, the anxious home team midfielder Meigues tackled from the side and behind. Toranso was knocked down and received a yellow card.
Although Toranso made protective moves in time and was not injured, the moment he was tackled still looked scary. Many Hurricanes players and fans thought Toranso might be injured.
The main reason is that Mayguez's movements are too big and too fierce. It seems that he is not directed at the ball at all, but at the person.
This made Willard angry.
Despite his young age, Velarde is now one of the team's leaders. He was appointed vice-captain by Mario Binco in the new season. If captain Mancinelli is not on the court, he will wear the captain's hat. Armband, leading the team on the field.
This further strengthened Willard's sense of responsibility.
Seeing Meiges shoveling people from behind without restraining his feet, almost causing Toranso to be injured, Velarde remembered it in his heart.
Just three minutes later, Willard seized the opportunity.
After the Lima Union defender got the ball, under Avila's pressure, he kicked the ball to the midfield. Velarde and Meiguez, who were the closest, rushed towards the ball's landing point at the same time, jumping to compete for the top.
The two collided hard in the air, but Willard was faster, stronger, had better jumping ability, and could jump higher. He successfully jumped up and grabbed the landing spot, ferrying the ball to the side for support. Lucas Villaruel.
But grabbing the landing spot is not Velarde's main purpose. He seems to be looking up at the ball in the air, but in fact, he has been paying attention to Meiges out of the corner of his eyes.
Then, while taking off to compete for the top, Velarde deliberately put his elbows on the side. By taking advantage of taking off first and jumping higher, his elbow just happened to be aimed at Meigues, who was taking off behind. While passing the ball to Lucas, he hit Meiges' chin with an elbow.
Meiges screamed on the spot, covered his chin and fell down. The home team fans in the stands made a noise, and Lima League players also gathered around, trying to find Velarde for an explanation.
Ming Bella, the closest winger, pushed Velarde from the side. In fact, Velarde noticed him, but this time he did not push him back. Instead, he pushed him the moment Ming Bella reached out and touched him. He screamed and fell down, pretending to be pushed to the ground by Ming Bella in retaliation.
Sure enough, although Velarde was shown a yellow card for elbowing Mayguez, the Lima Union did not please him. Because Mingbella pushed down Velarde in retaliation without the ball, he was also shown a yellow card by the referee.
What made the home team players and fans even more depressed was that Mayguez's jaw was directly dislocated by Velarde's elbow, and his gums were even bleeding, so he had to be replaced by No. 8 Cueva.
The Argentinian commentators said with an "I expected it" look:
"Megues was helped down by the team doctor. His gums were bleeding and his jaw was dislocated."
"Obviously, this is Velarde's revenge for his vicious tackle on Toranso a few minutes ago."
"After Meigs tackled Toranso, I knew that Velard would respond."
"Sure enough, Mayguez was sent off with an elbow from Velarde."
"Although Willard received a yellow card himself, he knocked out one of the opponent's main defensive midfielders. Willard's revenge this time is quite cost-effective."
"What's more, Velard also caused a pushing foul by the home team's No. 18 winger Minbela, and was also shown a yellow card by the referee."
"With both sides receiving a yellow card, Lima Union, which had one player injured and had to make substitutions in the first half, obviously suffered a big loss."
"Villad was famous last season for his tough waist and midfield butcher. As long as he plays well, if anyone dares to commit a flagrant foul, Willard will definitely retaliate."
"And Velarde is not as impulsive as before. The first time someone pushed Velarde, he threw him over his shoulder. While sending his opponent to the hospital, he also got himself red carded and sent off. Additional suspension."
"But now, Willard has become smarter. Not only can he retaliate against his opponents, but he can also make them eat cards."
"Whether it's offensive and defensive skills or court IQ, Willard is getting better and better."
"In today's game, although the Hurricanes are playing away from home, if they continue to play like this, I am afraid that the Hurricanes will not only be able to escape unscathed, but even win."
"Then the suspense in the second round is basically over."
In fact, because of last season's double championship and good strength, I watched the highlights of the Hurricanes game during the Lima League preparations. As the core of the Hurricanes' defense, the home team players are also familiar with Velarde's strength and style.
But the so-called success on paper is shallow, not in the same league, and the attention is not as high as that of the Argentinians. After all, it is a bit untrue. Therefore, during the game, as the tense game progressed, Meiges not only dared to tackle Toranso maliciously, but also dared to compete head-on with Velarde, only to be retaliated against.
Although everyone knew that Velarde's action was intentional, he covered it up under the heading of a header, arguing that he was unintentional, and the referee and the Lima League players were helpless.
This is not like Mingbella's pushing without the ball just now, which is a clear yellow card.
Therefore, although the consequences were different and vastly different, Willard only received the same yellow card punishment as Minbella.
Now the people in the Lima Alliance finally know Velarde's true style and strength, and no one dares to confront him head-on.
Everyone is just playing football to earn wages, not really fighting hard. Most people can't stand Willard's physique, so they can only avoid his edge.
The original 4231 formation already had a defensive advantage. Coupled with Velarde's defensive and commanding abilities, and the fact that no one in the Lima League dared to challenge him in a one-on-one fight, the Hurricanes' defense was even more like an iron wall. The home team was completely helpless. .
In the 35th minute, Lima Union finally succeeded in passing through the wing. Center forward Gevchochian grabbed the first point and completed a header that hit the goal frame. However, it was still missed by goalkeeper Marcos Di. Yas reacted quickly and jumped up and stretched out his hand to lift the ball over the crossbar.
Lima Union's offense still failed to score.
Just as Mario Binco thought, after changing the formation and playing style, and with Velarde, the top midfielder, in the backcourt, the Hurricanes Athletics backcourt is basically in an invincible position. Then take advantage of the opponent's opportunity to attack and wait for an opportunity to counterattack. With just one ball, you can kill the opponent.
Now, the Hurricanes have scored a lightning goal in the opening game, and their opponent, Lima Union, has been forced to a dead end and has to attack aggressively, which in turn gives the Hurricanes more opportunities to counterattack.
No, when the time came to the 38th minute, Lima Union made a mistake in a side pass. Lucas Villaruel decisively grabbed the ball, intercepted the ball halfway, and then passed the ball To the right midfielder Tulasa, he launched a quick counterattack.
This time, the Hurricanes' attack was smooth and it quickly reached the edge of Lima Union's penalty area. Midfielder Toranso stuffed the ball into the penalty area and sent it to the feet of forward Avila, who had his back to the goal.
Because it was a quick counterattack, the home team failed to defend in time. At this time, there were only two central defenders left in the Lima Union penalty area. The two rushed forward, trying to contain Avila who received the ball and prevent him from turning around and shooting.
As a result, Avila had no intention of shooting and did not stop the ball at all. The moment he caught the ball, he stopped the ball and knocked it back diagonally to the left side of the penalty area.
New aid No. 10, Alejandro Romero, entered the penalty area from the left wing, faced Avila's diagonal knock on the ball, and volleyed hard without stopping, successfully hitting the ball within the goal frame.
Although the ball went straight to the near corner and the angle was not too tricky, it was too powerful and too fast. As soon as goalkeeper Frost saved it, the ball ran from the bottom of his palm against the turf and into the near-end goal.
In the 38th minute, the Hurricanes scored another goal, with forward Alejandro Romero assisting Alejandro Romero to score the opponent's goal, extending the lead to 2-0.
As a new aid, Alejandro Romero also scored in his first official game with Atletico Hurricanes, and it was also an important occasion like the Libertadores Cup.
Therefore, Romero, who scored the goal, was very excited and ran all the way to the sidelines and knelt down to celebrate. Unfortunately, he didn't control the strength well, and his knee sank into the turf. Like Robben's failed sliding kneel celebration, he rolled out and was laughed at by the home team fans in the stands.
However, this is not a problem. Neither Romero nor the Hurricanes players care. After all, the most important thing is scoring goals. Now, the Hurricanes are leading 2-0 away from home, not only leading by two goals in total, but also leading by two away goals.
Then you will know who is laughing at whom!
This goal severely damaged the morale of the Lima League players.
After being unable to break through the Hurricanes' goal for a long time, the Hurricanes counterattacked and scored to expand the score. They were afraid to attack aggressively in the next few minutes for fear of being counterattacked again.
The remaining minutes of the first half were spent like this.
After 2 minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half. The two sides entered the halftime break with a score of 0-2. The away team Hurricane Athletic temporarily led by two goals.
