El Rojo faced a tough start to the Cup, slipping at home against a direct rival and leaving relegation worries hovering once again over the club. The early phase of the season has been pressing, and there isn’t much room for error as the calendar advances toward the final stretch of 2023.
Independent could not afford a setback in the Professional League Cup opener, especially at home against a rival in the same area of the table. With reinforcements in place, the outcome was a defeat that compounds the team’s challenge in a campaign that demands stability and consistency. The realities of this battle for survival became more pressing with every whistle, as the team now has just 13 games remaining in the year to turn the tide.
The end of the match saw whistles that have become a familiar soundtrack at Libertadores de América, reflecting not only the result but also the performance of Zielinski’s squad. Colón dominated large portions of the game, showing the clarity of intent and the strategic approach needed to secure the victory. That win lifted Colón out of the relegation zone on the year table and reinforced the urgency for Independiente to reframe its approach if it hopes to climb the standings in the remaining fixtures.
In the opening half, the most threatening moment for the Amsterdam-based team came when Mancuello directed a shot that Chicco directed away, before the interval. The second half brought several attempts, and Colón was awarded a penalty after Wanchope Ábila unexpectedly struck the crossbar while attempting to convert. Moments later, Espínola’s run and touch breached the offside line to set up Gorosito’s squad for the advantage. Colón had multiple chances to seal the win, but some were squandered and a marginal Giménez effort at goal was too high, leaving Independiente exposed to a late rally that never fully materialized.
This defeat adds another layer of concern for Independiente as it scrutinizes the annual table, while Colón’s ascent continues as they push for even more positions higher up the standings.
The schedule for the 2023 Professional League Cup: fixtures, dates, calendar and results
next in GOALthe party’s actions.
INDEPENDENT – COLUMN, MINUTE BY MINUTE
- The minute-by-minute tension between the Red and the Sabalero.
- COLUMBUS TARGET! El Rojo misjudged the play and Espínola found space to push forward.
- Wanchope missed it! Colón earned a chance to open the scoring, but Ábila struck the crossbar on the penalty.
- Good evening and welcome to another GOAL broadcast. Independiente faces Colón on date 1 of the 2023 Professional League Cup at the Libertadores de América Stadium.
THE TARGET EXAMPLE
HOW TO WATCH LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING
The match between Rojo and Sabalero will be shown in Argentina on TNT Sports, available to subscribers with the football package through participating cable providers.
TNT Sports
FORMATIONS
INDEPENDENT
Rodrigo Rey; Mauricio Isla, Felipe Aguilar, Edgar Elizalde, Ayrton Costa; Sergio Ortiz, Ivan Marcone, Federico Mancuello; Braian Martinez, Martin Cauteruccio, Alexis Canelo. DT: Ricardo Zielinski.
COLON
Ignacio Chicco; Alberto Espinola, Paolo Goltz, Facundo Garces, Rafael Delgado; Stefano Moreyra, Favio Alvarez; Tomas Galvan, Ruben Botta, Damian Batallini, Jorge Benitez. DT: Nestor Gorosito.
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Source: Goal