The Rojo have struggled to win since their debut, and Stillitano’s cycle appears to be winding down in a match defined by one of the most unusual penalties seen in recent memory.
Independiente has watched a streak of losses follow the promise he made on opening day, leaving him stranded like an island in a campaign that is beginning to unsettle the club and could cost Leandro Stillitano dearly. The ambitious bet placed by the new leadership aimed to lift the side from its heavy financial shadow, yet the squad assembled stands far from the club’s proud past.
Yet the analysis cannot start without revisiting the game that seems destined to travel the globe: Colón stifled the Reds and Rodrigo Rey emerged as a key figure as the score remained level. The Sabalero team, however, had to take the goal kick; Chicco delivered to Goltz, and the veteran keeper handled the ball, thinking he should be the one to take the kick. After lengthy consultation, Lamolina cleared for a penalty, and Giménez converted to make it 2-1.
Independiente’s misfortunes continued: defensive lapses allowed Barcia to grab Wanchope’s shirt in the 53rd minute. To cap it all, Rey saved Ábila’s penalty, but the rebound found its way to the keeper, resulting in a 2-2 tie. He even faced a late scare when Pierotti’s chance was nearly converted, but the goalkeeper shielded a remarkable moment, drawing whistles from the crowd once more.
Even before that dramatic ending, there was a match in which the home side again started unfocused and fell behind after 12 minutes courtesy of Pierotti’s brilliant strike. They rallied to level with Avellaneda’s first penalty of the night, converted by Cauteruccio. Yet momentum never swung decisively in their favor, and the visitors found it difficult to press for more goals as the game wore on.
At this point, Independiente has played seven matches without a win, and the mounting pressure on Stillitano grows heavier. The manager, a fan of the club, faces a tense period as the team’s results push toward a potential end of his tenure, despite his deep connections to the club.
The Binance Professional League Tournament 2023 program offers fixtures, dates, schedules, and results for those tracking the competition, including this upcoming clash in Buenos Aires.
The action on GOAL continues to unfold as the tournament progresses.
INDEPENDENT – COLUMN, MINUTE BY MINUTE
- The minute-by-minute narrative features the Red and the Sabalero in a tight battle.
- COLUMBUS TARGET! They forced Wanchope into a shot, Rey saved, but the rebound found the net for a 2-2 equalizer
- INDEPENDENT TARGET! Giménez converted the penalty to give the Reds the lead
- The most unusual penalty in history! Chicco touched the ball to serve, Goltz handled it again, and Lamolina awarded the maximum penalty
- INDEPENDENT TARGET! The Rojo quickly responded with a penalty that brought Cauteruccio to 1-1
- COLUMBUS TARGET! Pierotti finished with his left foot after a VAR check confirmed no offside; the Reds fell behind early
- And with these eleven, the Sabalero looked for their first victory
- This is how Red goes, desperate to claim victory
- Good afternoon and welcome to another live broadcast from GOAL. Independiente faces Colón on date 8 of the Binance 2023 tournament 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 broadcast in Argentina by ESPN premium, available only to subscribers of the football package through their cable providers.
ESPN premium
FORMATIONS
INDEPENDENT
Rodrigo Rey; Cristian Báez, Luciano Gómez, Joaquín Laso, Ayrton Costa; Nicolás Vallejo, Sergio Ortíz, Kevin López, Baltasar Barcia; Matias Gimenez and Martin Cauteruccio. DT: Leandro Stillitano.
COLON
Ignacio Chicco; Facundo Garces, Stefano Moreyra, Paolo Goltz, Rafael Delgado; Julián Chicco, Juan Pablo Álvarez, Santiago Pierotti, Carlos Arrua; Joaquin Ibanez and Jorge Benitez.
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