Conclusive win for Total Soccer, one step closer to the sixth stage of the Colombian Primera C

Total Soccer - Escape con el Deporte Puerto Tejada FC 3-0 (1-0)

Juan José Herrera 2', 90'+ 1', Jarol Mosquera 86'.

Saturday, 22 October 2022, 12 noon local time (5 pm UTC), Marte #1 Stadium, Medellín, Colombia, fifth stage of the Colombian Primera C (last 12), 1st leg.

Total Soccer starting line-up against Puerto Tejada FC. Photo source: capsulas.com.co

On a beautiful day, Total Soccer took the chance of becoming favorites to qualify to the sixth stage of the Colombian Primera C by smashing Puerto Tejada FC on Marte #1 ground, 3-0. However, the goals were scored right at the beginning and at the end of the game, leaving about 84 minutes without scoring in between, when the match could have gone anywhere.

The referees and the two team captains before the start of the game. Photo source: capsulas.com.co

The game jas just started when Total Soccer took an early lead. An action on the left side led the ball to Danilo Morón in the box, he turned it back to the center of the box to unmarked Juan José Herrera, who sent it home: 1-0 (2').

Total Soccer controlled most of the game and had many opportunities to double their difference, while the visitors struggled hard to get to the opposite goal, especially in the first half. Juan José Herrera's shot went slightly wide (10'), then Jonatan Martínez and Danilo Morón escaped all alone with goalkeeper Juan Esteban Camayo, but Martínez preferred a shot (which hit the side post) instead of a combination (18'). Another action triggered by a decisive pass from Herrera to Jaaziel Mosquera saw the ball almost in the net, but Julián Celorio saved from the goal line with the price of an injury which set him out of play (35').

In the second half, the visitors tried more to come back in the game, and even had some periods when they dominated the midfield, launching dangerous offensive actions. Still, the biggest chances belonged to Total Soccer, especially at the beginning and the end of the second half. Danilo Morón's shot from the edge of the bix hit the crossbar (54'), and goalkeeper Camayo had numerous crucial saves in front of Total Soccer strikers.

Nevertheless, in the middle of the second half, Puerto Tejada FC had an excellent chance to equalize. Newly-introduced Marlon Palta entered the box all alone with the goalkeeper William Fierro, but his shot went wide, also because Juan Felipe Gutiérrez made all the possible attempts to stop Palta from the back, quite risky given that the action was inside the box (68').

While the visitors clearly stepped forward in search of an equalizer, they also left wider spaces in their defense, rendering them more vulnerable to Total Soccer fastbreaks. After such a counterattack, Juan José Herrera was fouled right on the edge of the box. While the wall was not properly arranged, Jarol Mosquera still managed to find a gap in the wall to transform the free kick, finally providing a safer advantage for Total Soccer: 2-0 (86').

In the remaining minutes, the visitors seemed to have collapsed both physically and morally, and Total Soccer attacked almost continuously. Goalkeeper Camayo saved a few shots, but after two consecutive shots from inside the box, eventually Juan José Herrera succeeded to push the ball into the net: 3-0 (90'+1').

 Jarol Mosquera (left) and Juan José Herrera scored the goals for Total Soccer. Photo source: capsulas.com.co

Total Soccer: Fierro - Jarol Mosquera, Montes, Gutiérrez, Tapias - Jaaziel Mosquera (Londoño 72'), J. García, J. Arboleda (Avendaño 79'), Morón - Herrera - J. Martínez (Parra 57'). Manager: Juan Gabriel Sepúlveda.

Escape con el Deporte Puerto Tejada: Camayo - Celorio (Ortiz 36'), Jaramillo (Palacios 12'), Gómez, Tenorio, Zape, Moreno, D. Arboleda (Palta 65'), Ambuila, Ramos, Mojica. Manager: Carlos Mario Lasprilla.

Referee: Óscar Castaño.

Escape con el Deporte Puerto Tejada FC starting line-up against Total Soccer. Photo source: capsulas.com.co

The second (return) leg will be played this week-end in Puerto Tejada, Cáuca Department. Total Soccer are big favourites to qualify to the sixth stage (last 6) of the Colombian Primera C, given the advantage they have from the first leg. However, it may be a different story on a natural grass ground, and the Puerto Tejada team showed some strengths in building-up powerful and dangerous attacks, which is quite sure they will do throughout the game on their home ground, in trying to cancel Total Soccer's advantage from the first leg.