(photo: Gustavo Aleixo/Cruzeiro)
O cruise complained to not giving a penalty in the match against Unión La Calera, this Tuesday (23/4), in the third round of the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana. The teams faced each other at the Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo Municipal Stadium, in Concepción, Chile.
The move occurred in the 41st minute of the game. Rafael Elias, Papagaio, carried the ball into the penalty area and fell after receiving a charge on the back of midfielder César Pérez. The celestial athletes and coach Fernando Seabra complained a lot about the refereeing.
After listening to the VAR’s opinion, Paraguayan referee Mario Díaz de Vivar ordered the play to continue. The decision divided opinions among sports commentators.
Unión La Calera bids 0x0 Cruzeiro
For the narrator Nivaldo Prietofrom the Paramount+, the penalty for Cruzeiro should have been awarded. “There’s a hand on Pérez’s back to move him. Right arm. Rafael Elias was clearly pushed.”
Mauricio Noriega, who commented on the match for the channel, agreed with Prieto “It’s a penalty for me. Lightly, but it’s a penalty. He had the superiority of the throw and control of the ball. It’s not that scandalous penalty, but I don’t think Rafael Elias threw himself. It is the referee’s prerogative to interpret the move.”
On the other hand, the former referee Márcio Rezende de Freitasanalyst at Radio Itatiaia, understood Mario Díaz’s decision. For him, Rafael Elias let go of his body as soon as he felt the La Calera player’s hand on his back.
“In that Papagaio move, there is an arm from the La Calera player, but, for me, an arm to measure distance. When he feels his arm behind his back, he lets go. South American arbitration hardly does this. I wouldn’t score either.”
Union La Calera x Cruzeiro
Unión La Calera and Cruzeiro drew 0-0 in Chile. Rafael Elias, who asked for the maximum penalty, wasted an incredible chance in the 6th minute of the game. He received a cross from Marlon, tried to hit it first time and ended up ‘scoring’ it in the small area.
With 62% possession of the ball, Raposa had two other good chances. Álvaro Barreal, in the first half, hit the post with a cross shot, while José Cifuentes, with a well-placed shot, hit the left post in the second half.
The goalless draw leaves Cruzeiro with three points in the South American Championship, in third place in Group B. Universidad Católica, from Ecuador, took the lead, with seven points, after beating Alianza 3-1 in Colombia.
