Unión put in a great shift at Rojo’s ground, but let it slip at the end | OneFootball

Photo: Juan Manuel Foglia

Unión was winning 4 to 2, but it slipped away at the last minute and they leave Avellaneda with just one point

Madelón's team played a high-level first half, managing to get a three-goal lead over Independiente, who were living a nightmare in their own home. A controversial penalty awarded by Andrés Merlos changed the atmosphere and the Rojo ended up tying it 4-4 in stoppage time. Madelón valued it in a press conference: “We played a great game and it's not easy to score four goals in this stadium.”

Photo: X @clubaunión

Unión returns from Avellaneda with a draw that is hard to explain from the logic of the game. The night was looking good at the Libertadores de América, for a good part of the night they were superior to Independiente, dominated with authority and managed to get a three-goal difference over Gustavo Quinteros' team who were completely asleep.

The Tate played a first half that was close to ideal. They were an intense team, clear in recovering the ball and quick to attack. Tarragona had a good game and Julian Palacios was sharp in attack. Unión was shining against a big team and the 3-0 in their favor was not exaggerated. They even had a fine offside disallowed that could have extended the lead even more. Independiente was overwhelmed and their fans let them know.

The Libertadores de América was a real hell for the Rojo. Pusseto's goal at the end of the first half gave them some hope before the half-time whistle.

At the start of the second half came the night's controversy, the penalty awarded by Andrés Merlos for a hold on Gabriel Ávalos. One of those holds that appear at every moment of the game, often inside the area and rarely called. It's hard to explain what Andrés Merlos saw to award the penalty and give the locals hope. From that non-existent penalty, Ávalos made it 3 to 2 to put the Rojo back in the game with the entire second half ahead.

See also: The NON-EXISTENT penalty awarded by ANDRÉS MERLOS that revived Independiente

Unión didn't stop looking and quickly made it 4 to 2. From a corner to the left foot of Maizon Rodriguez to do a bit of justice after the penalty Merlos gifted to the home team. By that point, the game had already become disorganized. Independiente pushed, found another goal from Ávalos through a cross to the Paraguayan's head, taking advantage of a poor exit from Matías Mansilla and putting Gustavo Quinteros' team back in the game.

The end was already heart-stopping, as Madelón described it. The scenario was complicated and everything was coming down on Unión. Estigarribia collided with Solari himself and ended up with a deep cut on his forehead. Mateo Del Blanco asked for a change, and the Rojo pushed with everything. In stoppage time and with the entire team inside the area, a tremendous header from Juan Fedorco tied the game for Independiente and shared the points at the Libertadores de América.

A result that leaves some frustration because the game seemed to be heading in a different direction. If Madelón's team proved anything again, it's that they can be disrespectful away from home and stand their ground on any field. With this draw in Avellaneda, Unión closes three consecutive games away from Santa Fe, bringing back seven points out of nine possible, a harvest that is not insignificant.

Unión returns to Santa Fe with that bitter taste from the draw in a match they were winning by a wide margin, but with the certainty that this team can stand on any field and compete equally with any team. It seemed like a night written for Unión, but in Avellaneda, the celebration was only red.

The best moments of the 4-4 draw between Independiente and Unión

⚽ Tarragona's goal at 13′ of the first half

⚽ Brahian Cuello scores the second at 19′

⚽ Great finish by Mateo Del Blanco to shine in Avellaneda

⚽ Pusseto scores at the end of the first half

Unión's Lineup

Starters

Substitutes

Coach: Leonardo Madelón

Independiente's Lineup

Starters

Substitutes

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.