It could perfectly be considered an early final. Mexico and Argentinatwo of the teams that have played the best soccer in the U20 World Cup, faced each other at the National Stadium for a place in the semifinals. Playing a game that was more worked than lyrical, The Albiceleste overcame a difficult obstacle, won 2-0 and fueled the dream of the youth title.
Both the Aztecs and the Trans-Andeans reached the quarterfinals undefeated. While El Tri knocked Chile out of the way with a win in Valparaíso, the Albiceleste did the same against Nigeria. A clash of candidates, who had a reserved forecast in the previous one.
One characteristic that Diego Placente‘s team has had in the tournament is that has managed to become the start of the matches. Here was no exception. In a flurry, Argentina took advantage and Mexico suffered by two, because they had to regret the injury of Alexei Domínguez, one of their best assets, and then Maher Carrizo made it 1-0. In the 9th minute, the Vélez footballer scored after a rejection by goalkeeper Ochoa.
The albicelestes knew how to take advantage of the lack of concentration of the Mexicans, who momentarily were left with 10 after the departure of Domínguez.
It was not a particularly attractive match. It was rather rough, cut, especially in the first half. Placente’s approach was to fight the match, closing in at the back, putting in a line of five on the setback and coming out at speed on the counterattack. That pragmatism allowed him to lock up Mexico and not give space to the most talented of the rival. Gilberto Mora, the 16-year-old pearl, appeared rarely in Ñuñoa.
Argentina has the favorite sign not only because it has great individuals and because its defensive work is effective. Also because he manages to hit at the right moments. In the complement, he scored 2-0 and it seemed to be a knockout blow. In 56′, Mateo Silvetti, who replaced the scorer Alejo Sarco, took advantage of a space in the Aztec defense and took a cross shot to convert.
Any hint of a response from the Mexicans was sterile because they did not hit the target. In the epilogue, the temperature rose. Mexico ended up with 9 players, due to the expulsions of Diego Ochoa and Tahiel Jiménez.
With Argentina’s qualification, the U20 World Cup ensures a finalist from South America. Because the trans-Andeans will have to face Colombia, which dispatched Spain in the first round of the day. This clash will be on Wednesday the 15th, at the National Stadium.
