4-2. Defense defeated Coquimbo and will define the title against Lanús

Defense players celebrate today, at the end of a match of the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana at the Norberto Tomaghello stadium in Florencio Varela (Argentina). EFE / Natacha Pisarenko POOL

The Argentine Defense and Justice defeated the Chilean Coquimbo Unido 4-2 and qualified for the final of the South American Cup where they will face on January 23 at the Mario Kempes stadium the also Argentine Lanús.
After the goalless draw in the first leg, which was played in Asunción a week late due to coronavirus infections, the ‘Falcon’ became strong at home and secured the passport to its first continental final.
In this way, the former multi-champion forward Hernán Crespo, Defense and Justice coach since January 2020, was one step away from his first title as a coach after having directed Italian Modena and Argentine Banfield without great results.
The match had a sudden start from the premises, but on its first arrival the Chilean visit managed to open the score in the 8th minute when Rubén Farfán managed to take advantage of a lack of rapport between Adonis Frías and Rafael Delgado after a cross from the left.
Defense and Justice assimilated the blow and increased the intensity of their offense and scored three goals in 12 minutes to go forward on the scoreboard.
The tie came just three minutes after Coquimbo Unido’s goal after a great play by Braian Romero and a perfect cross for Francisco Pizzini’s definition against goalkeeper Matías Cano.
The ‘Falcon’ managed to reverse the result in the 21st minute with a header from Braian Romero after a touch back from Valentín Larralde.
Two minutes later Defense struck after a loan from Walter Bou again to Braian Romero to culminate a great team play.
Brian Romero’s hat-trick came in the 44th minute after a deep pass for the tournament’s top scorer to score and almost sentenced the series.
In the complement, Coquimbo Unido reacted and at minute 62 with a shot from Lautaro Palacios against goalkeeper Ezequiel Unsaín.
The final stretch of the match was with Coquimbo desperately seeking to reach the discount first and the necessary draw, but Defense managed to avoid another fall of his goal and sentence his passport to the final.
Now Coquimbo Unido, bottom in the Chilean tournament with 26 points after 25 games, must play the final stretch of the tournament to try to maintain the category.
The 2020 South American Cup final will be played on January 23 as a single match at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba with an entirely Argentine duel.
– Datasheet:
4. Defense and Justice: Ezequiel Unsain; David Martínez, Adonis Frías, Rafael Delgado; Emanuel Brítez, Valentín Larralde (m.55, Marcelo Benítez); Eugenio Isnaldo (m.75, Franco Paredes), Enzo Fernández, Francisco Pizzini (m.75, Washington Camacho); Walter Bou (m.82, Miguel Merentiel) and Braian Romero (m.83, Ciro Rius).
Coach: Hernán Crespo.
2. Coquimbo: Matías Cano; Benjamín Vidal (m.46, Nicolás Berardo), Federico Pereyra, Raúl Osorio, Juan Carlos Espinoza (m.46, Felipe Villagrán); Jorge Gatica, Diego Aravena (m.84, Diego Vallejos), John Salas; Rubén Farfán, Joe Abrigo (m.65, Rafael Arace) and Lautaro Palacios.
Coach: Juan José Ribera.
Goals: 0-1, m.8: Rubén Farfán. 1-1, m.11: Francisco Pizzini. 2-1, m.21: Braian Romero. 3-1, m.23: Braian Romero. 4-1, m.44: Braian Romero. 4-2, m.62: Lautaro Palacios.
Referee: Colombian Andrés Rojas admonished Enzo Fernández, Benjamín Vidal, Federico Pereyra, Lautaro Palacios, John Salas and Felipe Villagrán.
Incidents: second leg of the semifinals of the South American Cup played at the Norberto Tito Tomaghello stadium, in Buenos Aires.