1'On an afternoon of huge anticipation, first whistle and off we go; the team try to settle quickly with an extra gear.
3'The home side put the game to sleep in the danger zone, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell. You can see the work done on the training ground this week.
10'The away side have the ball, but the home side close the spaces as best they can.
11'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
12'The away side can't get near the ball; the home side keep it from them patiently.
14'The the away side press bites in the final third; the home side start to lose their clarity.
15'The ball is doing the rounds: the away side are in no rush, letting the attack simmer slowly. The margin for error is tiny.
16'The home side break at full speed; the away side were left wide open like a barn door. The home side are in a much better position after that.
19'The home side have the ball, but the away side close the spaces as best they can.
21'Pass between the lines from Lucio Sánchez; there was a tiny gap and the vision was there to spot it.
22'⚡ Gabriel Gómez plays it short to Lucio Sánchez...
22'...Lucio Sánchez returns it first time...
22'...Gabriel Gómez completes the one-two and he's clean through...
22'...Lucio Sánchez shoots...
22'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOAL! GOAL, GOAL, GOAL! Lucio Sánchez roars with delight. 1-0.
28'The opponent waste time, catch their breath and try to kill the momentum.
31'The the home side block sets up high; this is risky, but it's ambitious too.
33'The defender turns up exactly where it's burning hot and clears the danger.
38'The opposing defender loses a ball you simply cannot lose in that area.
39'The home side stretch the pitch and make the away side chase shadows.
40'Ivo Caruso finds exactly the right channel and leaves Gabriel Gómez staring at goal.
41'Coordinated pressing: one closes down, another blocks the lane and the third wins it. Two passes, open space and a dagger to the heart.
44'Effort from a teammate out wide; it whistled past and left everyone with the shout stuck in their throats.
46'A heated half-time: there was intensity, but a lack of precision in the final third. This game calls for calm heads.
48'Rubén Melo jumps out to press and squeezes the pitch as if by remote control.
49'A gift at the back from the home side; these are the ones you pay dearly for later.
53'Pablo Cabrera protests, but the foul was pretty clear.
53'🟨 Pablo Cabrera goes into the book; the next one could prove costly.
55'The away side manage the ball with a bit of cheek, shifting the home side from side to side.
57'The home side manage the ball with no messing about, shifting the away side from side to side.
58'Gabriel Gómez collects between the centre-backs after a pass that split the pitch in two.
59'Corner swung to the near post; the opponent clear it any way they can.
60'⚡ Renzo Baragiola picks up the ball a long way from goal...
60'...nobody closes him down...
60'...shapes to shoot...
60'...and unleashes a THUNDERBOLT...
60'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOAL! GOAL, GOAL, GOAL! Renzo Baragiola makes no mistake. 2-0.
62'Possession belongs to the away side, although for now there's no real bite around the box.
63'🎯 Simón Peñalva carries the ball forward...
63'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
63'Simón Peñalva sets it and lets fly; there was room and no hesitation at all.
65'The away side break at full speed; the home side were left wide open like a barn door. The bench are living it like a final of their own.
66'The home side can't get near the ball; the away side keep it from them patiently.
67'The home side can't get near the ball; the away side keep it from them patiently.
71'Pablo Cabrera went in with too much enthusiasm and gets the whistle. Nobody wants to give anything away.
71'🟨🟥 Second yellow for Pablo Cabrera! The referee shows red and sends him for an early bath.
74'Gabi Bertoni slows things down, puts a foot on the ball and waits for a path to open. The crowd get it straight away.
75'It's getting scrappy in midfield, with heavy challenges and few concessions.
81'The defender sticks out a lifesaving leg and stops a teammate going one-on-one. Time to look forward now.
83'The home side put the game to sleep between the lines, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell. There's still a game on here.
84'Ethan Brogli thinks a step ahead and finds Rubén Melo in the hot zone.
85'The home side try to play out from the back, but the away side swarm all over them as a unit.
88'Deft touch from Nahue Sassi: the defence appealed for offside, but play goes on.
89'The defender uses a bit too much body and the referee isn't buying the innocent look.
90'Amid applause and shared frustration, the end of a story of nerves, fine details and plenty of physical football.
2 - 0
AA Villa Lugano Reserva