Total Soccer, very close to another final of the Colombian Primera C

Total Soccer - Atlético Aracataca 6-1 (4-0)

Jarol Mosquera 6', 42', Herrera 15', 90'+2', Parra 34', Fierro 60' penalty - Acosta 53'.

Sunday, 19 November 2023, 2 pm local time (7 pm UTC), Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex, Marte 1 Stadium, Medellín, Colombia, Colombian Primera C, semifinal, 1st leg.

Total Soccer took a very serious option to qualify to yet another final of the Colombian Primera C, and to win back to back titles in this competition, the highest available for amateur teams in Colombia. Unfortunately, there is no promotion to Primera B, otherwise the stakes would have been even higher.

After a rather tight match in the quarter-finals against Ilusión Naranja, which Total Soccer ended up winning only at penalty shoot-outs, the semifinal match against Atlético Aracataca was very well prepared, especially taking into account that the second leg (the decisive match) will be played away, in Aracataca (Department of Magdalena).

Total Soccer dominated from start to finish, and especially in the first half one noticed a big difference between the two teams, which materialized on the score sheet as well. After less than six minutes, Jhon Arboleda found a beautiful filtering pass, which left Jarol Mosquera all alone with the goalkeeper, and a lob solved the first goal: 1-0 (6').

Yojan Parra had a great run on the right side, and passed to Juan José Herrera in front of the goal to make it 2-0 from short range (15'). Jhon Arboleda assisted Yojan Parra in the box, and Parra's shot went to the far post: 3-0 (34'). A counterattack led by Herrera was interrupted by a defender, who wanted to move the ball away, but instead assisted Jarol Mosquera, whose shot went in once again: 4-0 (42').

Jarol Mosquera (right) and Juan José Herrera (#10, left) celebrating the fourth goal. Photo source: capture from the Facebook video broadcast of the game by LAF

The visitors left a very poor impression in the first half, and the overall feeling was that Total Soccer can score as many goals as they want. Nevertheless, things changed a little bit in the second half. Atlético Aracataca, with a few changes in the line-up, played more offensively, while Total Soccer looked content with the result, and changed tactics, into a game of preserving the advantage.

This did not pay off, since the visitors were able to score very soon, by means of Didier Acosta, after a strong individual action, in which he dribbled almost everyone who was in his way, before placing the ball near the left corner: 4-1 (53').

Total Soccer sensed danger in this, and returned to a more offensive mood. A free kick was executed by Danilo Morón, goalkeeper Mengual saved, but there was a fight over possession of the ball inside the box, which ended up with the Total Soccer player falling to the ground. The assistant referee signalled to the referee that it was a foul and a penalty was awarded. The other goalkeeper, William Fierro, converted: 5-1 (60').

Total Soccer made many substitutions, the visitors tried to score other goals, but the the home side had the biggest opportunities. In stoppage time, after a beautiful counterattack led by Danilo Morón, Juan José Herrera scored with a great shot from inside the box to the upper right corner: 6-1 (90'+2').

Total Soccer: Fierro - Jaaziel Mosquera (Taborda 88'), Montes, Gutiérrez, Avendaño, García (Tapias 70'), Arboleda (Hernández 65'), Parra (Berrio 70'), Morón, Herrera, Jarol Mosquera (Córdoba 65'). Manager: Juan Gabriel Sepúlveda.

Atlético Aracataca: Mengual - Moguea, Parra, Granados, Zúñiga, Bustillo (Blanco 37'), Vargas (Arévalo 25'), Angulo (Rivera 46'), Villa (Escorcia 36'), Acosta, Vidal.

Referee: Bryan Salazar.

Yellow cards: Jarol Mosquera 54', Montes 90' - Vargas 26', Zúñiga 33', Granados 57', Moguea 89'.

On Saturday, 25 November, the second leg will be played on Chelo Castro Municipal Stadium in Aracataca. Total Soccer are big favorites to qualify once again in the Primera C final.