Ultimately the tie was won in a three minute spell last weekend in Independiente’s Estadio Libertadores de América – Racing’s two shots on goal yielded two goals and the first leg lead proved enough for Diego Cocca’s side to claim the last remaining Copa Libertadores 2016 spot and deny bitter rivals Independiente a return to the continent’s premier cup competition. El Rojo pushed to overturn the deficit in a packed Cilindro on Sunday afternoon and pulled a goal back through Uruguay international, Cristián ‘Cebolla’ Rodríguez but Luciano Lollo’s towering header equalised for Racing and put the tie out of reach. Two late sendings off reduced Independiente’s chances further and although they still mustered a winner on the day through Juan Martín Lucero, it was not enough to deny Racing.
ESPN‘s South American football correspondent, Tim Vickery said that this latest clásico de Avellaneda highlighted the best and worst of Argentine football – and he was right in that the clash served as a microcosm of the nation’s football in general. The fierce rivalry created two equally vociferous and passionate atmospheres albeit in the absence of away fans, the matches were intense and by certain Argentine standards entertaining, the players struggled to control themselves, the referee made some dubious decisions and the barra bravas made an ugly appearance to showcase the darkest aspect of the countries football.
The match may well have displayed all these ingredients of the local game but in truth all that mattered was that Racing would be in the 2016 Copa Libertadores and not Independiente.
Holding a two-goal cushion from the first leg, Racing were able to play far more on the counter, in the knowledge that Gustavo Bou was likely to cause Independiente’s central defensive duo a headache. The result was that El Rojo enjoyed the majority of possession and played with a greater intensity for much of the match. It took only a minute for Juan Martín Lucero to draw a decent stop from Racing goalkeeper Sebastián Saja and over the course of the first 45 minutes, Saja (and the post) would deny El Rojo on at least four occasions.
Independiente simply could not find the all-important breakthrough and with 25 minutes remaining, Mauricio Pellegrino introduced Cebolla Rodríguez. The Uruguayan, who has struggled with injury, made an instant impact and when his low struck free-kick found the bottom corner, the unlikely comeback appeared possible.
That hope lasted only minutes. Luciano Lollo rose from a corner to powerfully head the ball into the top corner and send the Cilindro into rapture.
Independiente needed two goals again to take the tie to penalties and that looked impossible once Jesús Méndez was adjudged to have elbowed Marcos Acuña and shown a red card and a moment later, Jorge Ortíz was also given his marching orders. Méndez could proclaim some innocence but Ortíz left referee Patricio Loustau no other option.
With nine-men, Independiente still pressed the home side back in the belief that they could salvage something, however unlikely. In stoppage time, Lucero slammed the ball past Saja at his near post and in the final action of the tie, centre-back Víctor Cuesta had the chance to enforce penalties. The ball dropped to the defender in the penalty area but his fierce volley flew agonisingly over the bar. Racing could breathe and then the celebrations could begin.
There was little between the sides over the two legs but the bragging rights went to La Academia. Manager Diego Cocca has already revealed he will be stepping down but he leaves Racing back in the Libertadores and with a good footing ahead of 2016.
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