The minutes of Fortaleza and Boca Juniors will be immortalized in the minds of the Tricolores. The duel is another one that will enter the sacred place of unforgettable games for Leão, which will be used as the maximum comparative degree when talking about a proper victory. Fortaleza de Vojvoda was superior to a world giant in front of the fans at Arena Castelão and (once again) did something historic.
A 1-0 victory over multi-champion Boca would already be good for the fans, who just wanted the team to remain undefeated in the South American Championship. However, football smiled on the Tricolores on Thursday night: Leão do Pici was the first team from the Northeast to face the Argentine giant and, consequently, to beat them. He won 4-2 with property, with strategy, good play and effectiveness. Nothing was missing.
It is necessary to start with the Argentine coach’s choices…
Vojvoda bet on changes in the lineup. The scheme didn’t change much from what we had already seen in other games, but the Argentine coach put Pedro Augusto in the starting lineup, and Cardona in Titi’s place, who had been playing alongside Brítez in the last few games. Titi started on the reserve bench.
On paper, the team appeared in a 4-4-2 formation, but on the field they behaved differently. Pedro Augusto retreated to form a line of three with Cardona and Brítez. Pikachu played free, as a winger. Zé Welison was the first midfielder. Machuca was very mobile and sometimes exchanged positions with Pochettino, who arrived a lot in attack.
First half of Fortaleza 1 x 1 Boca Juniors:
- Ball possession: 56% x 44%
- Finishings: 6 x 6
- Corners: 4 x 0
- Fouls committed: 6 x 4
- Offsides: 1 x 2
- Passes: 272 x 213
- Disarms: 8 x 7
The shine of Argentinians from Leão
Collectively Fortaleza did well, with Vojvoda’s strategy being superior and the changes having an effect. There was also no lack of individual brilliance in the tricolor cast’s quality pieces. Lucero and Pochettino took responsibility.
Pochettino He had a brilliant night, with three assists, mobility and precise passes. He delivered what was necessary to leave his teammates well served. He commanded the midfield with authority. He was way above.
Lucero He was willing to take advantage of every opportunity that was available to him. He scored two goals, one at the beginning of the first half, ensuring Tricolor’s confidence and firmness in attack. He has so far scored nine goals in international competitions and is the team’s top scorer in Conmebol games. This season there are 11 goals.
If the team worked to serve the attackers well, Machuca was also an important part of this, participating in the last goal.
The last two goals, in fact, were scored by the top scorer of the Vojvoda Era: Yago Pikachu. In the first minutes, the player showed that he would act as a winger and that the fans could expect a lot of movement. They were good arrivals. In the second half came the two goals that add to the other two scored against Sportivo Trinidense and Nacional Potosí. There hasn’t been a blank in any of Sula’s games so far.
An important player and present in big games, Pikachu doesn’t miss a good chance of writing his name on the record for Fortaleza. He was on the field in Leão’s big games in recent times: Estudiantes, San Lorenzo, Colo-Colo and River Plate. In the final against LDU, the player started on the bench and entered the second half, replacing Guilherme.
During the week, the player already highlighted his desire to take the field against “the best teams”. Against Boca Juniors, he took the chance and really played, as did the entire squad. Thus, he emerged with the deserved victory, undisputed, with authority.
Vojvoda’s hand was important in the entire result, from the lineup, to the locker room talk that brought a Fortaleza team of great intensity and dedication into the second half. He knew how to guide the team to victory. He strengthened.
Fortaleza takes the lead in Group D, with nine points, five points ahead of second place. More than that, it gave the fans who attended Arena Castelão an unforgettable and eternal night in their memories.
Tags: Analysis Fortaleza plays historic game Boca Juniors delivers eternal night fans strength
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