Racing De Cordoba continued their sensational unbeaten away league record, despite being reduced to ten men against bottom of the league side Atletico Parana on Sunday evening. With the officiating and time-wasting at an all time high, it's fair to say the game was always going to be a very tough one for the league leaders. However, Cordoba managed to come from two goals down to secure a two all draw, curtesy of goals from Gimenez and Oyola in the dying seconds.
First Half
Starting Lineup: Leonardo Rodriguez (GK), Emanuel Cordoba, Santiago Rinaudo, Juan Luis Alfaro, Emmanuel Gimenez, Marcio Gomez, Franco Garcia, Marcos Figueroa, Alan Murialdo, Pablo Lopez, Leandro Fernandez
Playing against a side that is bottom of any division, always bring's it's own challenges, especially being forced to switch the way in which you play, in order to try and earn points.
The visitors started the game much brighter of the two, as you'd expect given Racing De Cordoba were top of the league whilst their opponents Atletico Parana sat bottom of the division. Marcio Gomez created the games opening chances when he raced with speed, down the right hand side, before picking out Alan Murialdo in the penalty area. From there, Murialdo connected well with the delivery but couldn't steer his effort on target. Within four minutes, De Cordoba almost scored again when Franco Garcia tried his luck from just outside the penalty area but his effort was well saved by the goalkeeper. An Atletico Parana player, then made an excellent block to deny Leandro Fernandez from giving the league leaders the lead.
Then out of nowhere, Atletico Parana took the lead, completely against the run of play. To be fair to Parana, it was a well, built-up goal but the defending wasn't exactly good from the visitors, which allowed Pablo Stupiski to tap home from close range. You'd have been forgiven for thinking that the goal would kick momentum into Racing De Cordoba but if anything, it made them lose their heads and could have fell two behind within seconds. An initial corner into the penalty area was well defended, before the second saw a header go inches wide of the far post.
One common theme that ran through the first half was the hosts players' constantly dropping to the floor, pretending to be injured. It's embarrassing and really shouldn't be done on a football pitch. Not only that, but the officiating on display was very disappointing it has to be said, although the Cordoba players remained very keen to find a way back into the game at last. Potentially the worst shot i'd seen for a while, also occurred for the hosts when a first time shot from the edge of the penalty area flew high over the bar, and landed in England, United Kingdom. There was a very interesting end to the half in store when Marcos Figueroa was shown a straight red card, and your guess is as good as mine in terms of how it was awarded.
Half Time: Atletico Parana 1-0 Racing De Cordoba
Second Half
Being a man light, Racing De Cordoba had a very tough second-half in store it has to be said. Atletico Parana were in the driving seat after five second-half minutes.
However, Cordoba's dreams of a fast start are technically right, depending on which team your looking at. This is because the hosts decided to double their lead against the run of play once again. This time, Ignacio Valsangiacomo was on hand to finish a nice little move for the home side and suddenly, that little hope that Racing De Cordoba had was disappearing very quickly.
Unfortunately for Atletico Parana, Racing pulled a goal back. The club were knocking the ball around with ease, the type of confidence you'd like to see for a side who were being completely robbed throughout the game. A cross into the penalty area was poorly defended by Parana, and it fell to Emmanuel Gimenez who struck an excellent half-volley which flew into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper in no mans land. This game suddenly got a lot more interesting for those watching either in the stadium or at home,
Shortly after the goal, De Cordoba made their first substitution which saw Juan Fernando Alfaro come on to replace Pablo Lopez. However, the next opportunity fell the way of Parana who struck an excellent shot from the edge of the penalty area but it went wide of the mark and behind for a goal kick. This was before yet another Atletico Parana player went down off the ball, something that spectators were getting very annoyed at.
As we entered the final twenty minutes, the Academy were growing more in confidence and beginning to show the true reasons why they are top of the league. Alan Murialdo had an effort from just outside the penalty area which goes inches wide of the goal. Another opportunity arrived a minute later when a free-kick was whipped into the area but the hosts goalkeeper was out very quickly to end the danger,
The final ten minutes began with a substitution, which went on to completely change the game. This substitution saw Axel Oyola come on to replace Leandro Fernandez. The opportunities over the next six minutes, completely dried up until the 87th minute when striker Alan Murialdo thought he'd brought the league leaders back on level terms, only to be denied by the offside flag. However, just when all hope seemed lost, De Cordoba scored an equaliser in sensational circumstances. A throw-in on the left found substitute Axel Oyola, he cut inside and curled an effort from 30 yards out, around the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to rescue a point for the league leaders. It may not have been the win that Cordoba expected but it's certainly great character from a side who sit top and continue to expand their impressive away record, despite being held.
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