Without goals or emotions, Boca Juniors and Santos draw goalless in Libertadores semifinal | The State
Boca Juniors and Santos agreed to a goalless draw on Wednesday in the first leg of the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores and suspended which of the two will play the final of the tournament, on January 30 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
In an intense but dull meeting, both teams failed to break zero and left the definition for next Wednesday at the São Paulo stadium in Vila Belmiro.
Boca started at a better pace than its rival and in minute 8 Carlos Tevez enabled Sebastián Villa, that took a shot that hit the crossbar, although the play was disabled due to the advanced position of the Colombian attacker.
However, as time goes by Santos began to have more presence in the rival field and take over the ball, and had Marinho and Lucas Braga as his game axes.
In the 15th minute Salvio managed an overflow, but his center did not hit the center forward Soldano, and 9 minutes later fIt was Villa who reached the bottom of the field with a shipment that neither found Soldano nor Tevez for the last hit.
Santos managed the times and the field, but without reaching the goal defended by Esteban Andrada with so much danger thanks to the effective work of his central defenders Lisandro López and Carlos Izquierdoz.
In the 73rd minute Lisandro López lost to Braga that was thrown towards the goal ‘xeneize’, but his decision was to take a shot from outside the area that was deflected.
On the next play, Carlos Izquierdoz crossed with the body to Marinho in the area and, after the VAR review, referee Tobar determined that there was no infraction and the potential penalty was diluted.
Ramón ‘Wanchope’ Ábila in the 81st minute failed to finish a deep pass from Colombian Edwin Cardona for a ball that was never free for a shot.
In the final minute a center behind Villa was left to Jara on the edge of the area and took a shot over the crossbar that was the last possibility to modify the zero of the scoreboard.
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