On what proved to be an afternoon of complete frustration, Racing De Cordoba suffered their first league loss all season, at the hands of play-off hopefuls Crucero Del Norte on Wednesday Afternoon. From a delayed kick-off due to a lack of ambulance at the stadium, to decisions going against Cordoba, it was an afternoon to forget.
First Half
Starting Lineup: Leonardo Rodriguez (GK), Emanuel Cordoba, Santiago Rinaudo, Juan Luis Alfaro, Emmanuel Gimenez, Marcio Gomez, Emiliano Blanco, Franco Garcia, Axel Oyola, Pablo Lopez, Diego Jara
Subs: Emanuel Becarra, Gianfranco Ferrero, Martin Albarracin, Juan Fernando Alfaro, Lisardo Do Campo, Leonel Monti, Mateo Suarez
Following a fifteen minute delay due to the lack of emergency services present at the stadium, the match finally got underway. De Cordoba started the game much brighter of the two sides, and almost took the lead after just two minutes. Franco Garcia did brilliantly on the right hand side, and he delivered an excellent cross towards Diego Jara at the back post, however the ball went slightly too high and the attack lead to nothing.
It took the home side, ten minutes to register their first chance of the match. A cross from the right hand side found the head of the Del Norte forward, however he was unable to steer an effort on target from close range. They also had a free-kick, which ended up becoming a free-kick to De Cordoba.
The chances continued for Racing De Cordoba after that, firstly, Emanuel Gimenez tried his luck from distance, but his effort flew narrowly wide of the target. This was followed by a brilliant run from Diego Jara but somehow the linesman flagged to forward offside, a very poor decision for me. Axel Oyola almost made it three in three when he went through on goal but was denied by an excellent save from the goalkeeper.
The first half was full of chances and they continued as the approach to half time grew near. Axel Oyola had a free-kick from distance but it was straight at the goalkeeper. Garcia had a brilliant opportunity for De Cordoba but unfortunately he couldn’t get the ball under control.
However, out of nowhere, Crucero Del Norte should have taken the lead just before half time. A dangerous cross from the right hand side went into the penalty area towards the Del Norte forward. He slid forward trying to get on the end of the cross but he was mini-metres too short and the ball went behind for a goal kick. If the Del Norte forward connected with the cross, it would have been a goal. The final chance of the half fell to Diego Jara but his effort went wide of the far post.
Half Time: Crucero Del Norte 0-0 Racing De Cordoba
Second Half:
The second half began with a head injury which disrupted play before it even got going. The first chance of the second half fell to the home side as a cross into the area, narrowly missed the forward, a second cross went into the box but was over hit and went out for a goal-kick. This was followed by yet another head injury, this time to three players.
Crucero Del Norte continued to pile on the pressure as De Córdoba were forced to make a strong defensive tackle to deny another opportunity for the home side. Away from the chances, the Academy players were left seething with the referee after a player that’s on a yellow card made a foul but went unpunished. Speaking of things that went unpunished, De Cordoba felt they should have had the opposition reduced to ten men when Diego Jara went clean through but was brought down at the last second by the Del Norte defender. Somehow, the referee failed to make the correct decision.
In a good fifteen minute spell, De Cordoba almost took the lead when Emiliano Blanco’s cross went inches wide of the far post. Axel Oyola also found space just inside the penalty area, but he forced an excellent save from the Crucero Del Norte goalkeeper. Unfortunately, this was the end of the De Cordoba pressure for the game.
The home side were demanding a penalty when a player went down in the box after a tackle by Rinaudo but the referee correctly waved the appeals away. The hosts went close again and Rodriguez was forced to make an exquisite save to deny the home side. The penalty appeals continued next of all but the referee correctly rejected the appeals again. There was then a huge let off for De Cordoba when a mis-kick from Cordoba allowed the Del Norte forward through on goal but somehow they failed to score.
Crucero Del Norte continued to press and an effort from outside the area and Leonardo Rodriguez made one of the saves of the season to deny the winger. Absolutely brilliant from the De Cordoba goalkeeper. Unfortunately, the following corner found the head of the Del Norte striker who headed past the goalkeeper to give the home side an 89th minute lead. In the dying seconds, the referee continued to be centre of attention by refusing to award De Cordoba a free-kick leading to protests from both sides and the home sides manager was also sent off.
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