Racing Match Report: Racing Club 2 Arsenal 1 Round 21 APD http://sportazine.com/other/racing-match-report-racing-club-2-arsenal-1-21-apd/

Racing Club de Avellaneda 2 (Milito, Pavone)

Arsenal de Sarandi 1 (Trellez)

22nd August 2015

Ref: Diego Ceballos

In a game of few chances, Racing did just enough to take the three points away from a spirited Arsenal, to keep in touch with the top two.

Racing were coming in to today’s game with wins in their last two fixtures looking to continue their improving form as they look to reclaim their league title, against a side languishing in the bottom two having lost 2-­1 at home,last weekend, against the joint leader, Boca.

Cocca made one change to his Racing side from last time out against Union with Francisco Cerro coming in to replace Marcos Acuña, whereas Lombardo rang the changes including bringing in Esteban Andrada to keep goal.

Arsenal made the most of the early running with a lot of pressure in the opening minutes, forcing a corner, an area Racing are particularly weak in defending of late, inside the first minute. This corner lead to an attempt on Saja’s goal from Trellez who was very dangerous throughout the first half for Arsenal.

Arsenal had much of the early pressure in the first ten to fifteen minutes, but when Racing did get on the ball ill­-discipline was evident from Arsenal as they racked up the fouls and cards early. A free kick from a wide position saw the big talking point in the match. Romero delivered in a high ball which bounced harmlessly out of play but as it trickled behind the whistle blew and the Racing fans behind the goal went ballistic as a penalty has been awarded. Lertora had fouled Lollo in the area, trying to remove Lollo’s shirt to prevent the dangerous centre back an attempt at the header.

Up stepped the captain Diego Milito to take the spot kick, the last penalty he took was saved easily but today would be much different. Milito shuffle stepped to the ball before striking it firmly with power and precision to the bottom left hand corner freezing the goalkeeper Andrada and giving Racing Club a one nil lead very much against the run of play, after 17 minutes.

Racing failed to build on their advantage however, with Arsenal continuing to eke out the better opportunities to score, looking particularly dangerous with crosses from wide. One such occasion on 27 minutes was a good header from Fabian Muñoz which forced a tremendous reaction save from Saja. Muñoz as well as the commentator thought he had Saja beaten but Saja dived a full stretch to get a strong hand to the ball to send it out for corner.

On the stroke of half time Saja would not be able to save Racing again as a short corner one-two allowed Arsenal’s talismanic captain Fredes to a deliver an excellent cross from the left hand side where Trellez, who was allowed a free run from deep, headed into the far corner of the Racing net to level the score at the half.

The second half saw no changes made by Cocca but evidently a change in his player’s mentality as they attacked Arsenal from the first minute looking for the go ahead goal, but Arsenal stood firm preventing meaningful advances and winning their own corners.

Cocca made an early change replacing a quiet Washington Camacho with Marcos Acuña, who was immediately attacking the Arsenal defence down the left and began to link up with Bou and Romero. Romero starting his third straight for Racing in the hole behind the strikers and grew into the game in the second half especially, giving Arsenal a lot to think about and covering a lot of ground, whilst always looking for a killer pass through to Bou and Milito.

Diaz was replaced by Mariano Pavone on 26 minutes which shifted Cerro out wide, Romero deeper to play alongside Aued, who had a terrific game, allowing a front three of Milito, Bou and Pavone. It turned out to be an inspired change from Cocca as on 30 minutes a poorly cleared corner from Arsenal was put back into the area by Aued and was met with a brilliant header by Pavone, who powered the ball past the helpless Andrada and into the top of corner for his first goal in a Racing shirt.

Pavone’s goal lifted the spirits of the Racing players and fans but Arsenal fought hard and could have equalised if not for the defensive covering of Aued who dropped deep numerous times to play as an auxiliary center back and an incredible sliding challenge from Grimi which prevented a golden opportunity for Fredes.

Pillud replaced Milito as Racing reverted to a standard 4­4­2 with a perfect midfield partnership of Romero and Aued, allowing a misfiring Cerro to play his prefered position out wide right.

Racing saw out the remainder of the second half with a mixture of organised defending and energy sapping passing moves which prevented Arsenal many clear cut chances. Pavone would have the best opportunity to make the game safe for Racing but his miss did not come back to harm Racing as they take sole ownership of third position, for the time being at least.

Arsenal put in a decent performance and it is difficult to see why they are so far down the table, and they will hope to build on this next week against Tigre. Racing have been working through the gears a little better in recent weeks and Cocca is very confident in his 3­4­1­2 formation. Pavone will be happy to finally get off the mark for Racing, and the club should take a lot of confidence into their next league fixture away to Heinze’s floundering Godoy Cruz.

Racing’s man of the match: Luciano Aued, the central midfielder took control of the game in the second half for Racing, defending well, put in excellent challenges, making a series of excellent passes and putting in the ball for Pavone’s winner.

Arsenal’s man of the match: Herman Fredes, the Arsenal captain was a constant thorn in the side of Racing’s defenders whose pinpoint accurate crosses on another day would have seen a different result in this match.

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