worrying. Not knowing how to beat the Tarma team, the Rimenses added a poor draw before traveling to Argentina for the Libertadores: “There is no self-criticism. We did everything we had and we didn’t materialize. We arrived with the requested time”.
Sporting Cristal scored five goals in a complicated tournament like the Copa Libertadores and put on a performance that only delighted Rim fans. However, what was supposed to be the culmination of a perfect week against ADT de Tarma turned into a nightmare. Tiago Nunes’ men remained without a goal and with a rather worrying performance.
Everything looked like Rímac was going to be a party. The Bajo Pontinos had fought internationally and wanted to celebrate with the thousands of fans who filled the stands Albert Gallardobut as the game progressed and ended, the fans became desperate as the players didn’t take their chances.
The duty rivals were the classic visiting side of Franco Navarro: well organized at the back and fighting in midfield, blocking all attacks and countering as soon as they got the chance. As a result, in the first half alone, the referee showed five yellow cards (Loyola, Ascues and Lutiger for Cristal; Mimbela and Inga for ADT).
Sporting Cristal adds eight points in League 1 2023. Photo: Sporting Cristal
Seeing that things weren’t going as planned, the Brazil coach sent Castillo, Alarcón and Grimaldo onto the pitch instead of cautioning two, and Brenner, who’s exhausting the Sky Blue fans’ patience by not even scoring in League 1 or Copa Libertadores.
Although the locals were the masters and had great chances to score, they always failed on the last shot. In terms of the game, the second part was equal or more friction than the first, for which the referee showed six yellow and one red card at the end of the game.
When the duel ended and desperation descended from the stands, the guests had a very clear chance to take the three points towards Tarma. Kevin Serna took the ball in the opponent’s field, removed two markers and defined it magnificently, without imagining that Renato Solís would make a wonderful save to stop his goal from falling and return the soul of all the fans who came to Alberto Gallardo.
When the game was over, many wondered what happened to the team that beat Paraguay’s Nacional and qualified for Stage 3 of the Copa Libertadores. Last Tuesday night, the Rimenses put on their best performance, scoring so many goals by any measure that Jhilmar Lora’s goal was in contention for the best of the week in this continental tournament.
Now, with a poor home game, Tiago Nunes’ side missed a great opportunity to become co-leaders of the Apertura tournament and were stuck in third place with two wins and two draws with eight units. But what is most worrying is that they will face Argentina’s Huracán next Thursday, March 9th.
The Heavenly Ones will face a tough test against an old acquaintance at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó Stadium, as they also met for the Copa Libertadores in 2016. Back then everyone won their home game. The Bajo Pontinos prevailed 3-2 at the National Stadium and the Globe won 4-2.
The Celestials go for the Copa Libertadores for the epic against Huracán
After beating Nacional in Lima, Cristal will make a hard stop in Argentina against Huracán in Phase 3 of the Libertadores. The Nunes team will face the Globo on March 9th at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó and finish at home on the 15th of the same month in a stadium to be determined, since the colossus José Díaz will host a concert.