Estudiantes Defend Their Ground But Give Up What Could Be a Crucial Away Goal.

By: Mauro | September 24th, 2008

While Estudiantes were debuting a new coach, Leonardo Astrada, their playing style was preserved from the preceding coach, Roberto Sensini, and it showed as they were solid in the midfield and deadly on the forward line. Arsenal were defending the title they won last year and rode the coattails of their keeper in this match, who had a strong performance.

I was totally amped about this match since I had just sat through the Boca-LDU match, I was expecting a similar type match. But the more and more minutes ticked by, the more I realized how special the performance in last night’s first match was. But this match was more methodical and the pace was decidedly slower. Definitely not the headliner.

In the first half, Estudiantes had trouble figuring out the Arsenal defensive structure but eventually broke through only to be faced with an inspired keeper in Cristian Campestrini.

With Marcos Angeleri dominating the right flank, he was able to get a ball to Mauro Boselli in the center of the area for the 1-0 to Estudiantes in the 39th minute of the first half. And that was pretty much the formula, along with Gastón Fernández’ assists and Boselli’s strong presence in the middle kept the bulk of the first half in Arsenal’s penalty area. Arsenal was at fault for being cornered as they played a very conservative style.

The second half was more of the same as Arsenal only held Estudiantes off for 12 minutes before conceding Boselli his second goal. 2-0 to Estudiantes.

Despite the disadvantage in the score, Arsenal’s squad remained focused and collected. And Cristian Pellerano was the man to invigorate his side. In the 64th minute, he approached a ball outside the penalty area coming from the left, he one timed it past Estudiantes keeper Mariano Andújar who dove but was never going to keep this one out as it went in just inside the post. 2-1 to Estudiantes.

Then with the substitutions of Facundo Sava and Alejandro “Papu” Gomez, Arsenal got a breath of fresh air and was able to keep Estudiantes at bay until the end of the match.

I had this match ending in a 1-1 draw but I had also said that Estudiantes could pull out a 2-1 win. Ah well, next time I will trust my instincts. Next Thursday, they’ll finish the match up at the Julio Humberto Grondona Stadium in Sarandi.

Feel free to check the CONMEBOL website for results and information about upcoming matches and for those of you in need of a bracket to get your heads around the competition, get one here.