Deportivo J.M. - Total Soccer 0-0
Saturday, 8 October 2022, 2 pm local time (7 pm UTC), Estadio Albeiro Salcedo Martínez, El Molino, La Guajira Department, Colombia, 4th stage of Colombian Primera C (last 22), 1st leg.
Total Soccer starting line-up in one of their matches in August 2022. Photo source: capsulas.com.co
Total Soccer reached the fourth stage of the Colombian Primera C, the highest amateur level in Colombia, the first time they ever took part in this competition. The 2022 season is a very complicated one for Total Soccer, as they are enrolled in several competitions: in the Antioquia Regional League (where they finished as runners-up last year), in the Colombian Youth Supercup (Supercopa Juvenil), which they attend after a break of two years caused by the pandemic, and the Primera C.
This year, their efforts were mainly focused on the Primera C, as they won Group B, ahead of Medellín City and Atlético Nacional B, which also qualified for the next stage, out of eight Antioquia teams. All the following matches are in fact knock-out stages. In the second stage, Total Soccer faced First Level Clan of Bogotá, which they eliminated after a 1-1 draw away and a 4-2 win on Marte#1 Stadium in Medellín. In the third stage, Total Soccer met fellow Antioquian team Club Deportivo Bello, which they defeated 2-0 both away and home.
In the fourth stage, Total Soccer met Deportivo JM (Juventud Molinera). The first leg was played away, in El Molino, La Guajira Department, on a very bad pitch (hardly meant for football) and on a rainy day. The match was heavily influenced by the extremely bad quality of the pitch, which had grass only on a few patches in the middle, while the rest was covered in mud and sand, making it almost impossible to play competitive football. The heavy rain which poured all the time only added to the discomfort of both teams.
Under these circumstances, the goalless final score (0-0) was no surprise, although several opportunities did emerge however, mainly for Total Soccer, which controlled most of the game.
In the first half, Juan José Herrera was sandwiched in between two Deportivo JM defenders, but the referee did not award a penalty (29') and just a couple of minutes later J. Martínez was eventually blocked by goalkeeper Gamez, the man of the match (31').
The host team played much better in the second half, especially in the beginning of it, as they are probably well adapted to the awful pitch conditions. Their only big chance came when Jean Torres headed the ball slightly wide from short range (51'). Deportivo JM also had several shots which tested goalkeeper William Fierro, but without posing a real threat.
Towards the end of the match, Total Soccer regained control of the game and had several important opportunities to take the lead. Jonatan Martínez succeeded to break through the opposite defense, but his shot was slightly deflected and went wide (79'). In the resulting corner kick, Joan Córdoba's header was directed to Stiven Avendaño on the left, but his shot was saved by a defender from the goal line (80'). In stoppage time, a great shot by Joan Córdoba was miraculously saved by the goalkeeper Jeffy Gamez (90'+3').
Deportivo JM: Gamez - Rosado (O. Torres 62'), Y. Mendoza, Fragozo, Luna, Granadillo, Barros, Corzo (Daza 57'), Milian (P. López 13'), J. Torres, N. Martínez. Manager: Juan Miguel Romero.
Total Soccer: Fierro - Tapias, Montes, J. Avendaño, Bustamante - Morón (Parra 80'), J. García, Arboleda (S. Avendaño 46') - J. J. Herrera - Londoño (Córdoba 60'), J. Martínez. Manager: Gabriel Sepúlveda.
Referee: Álvaro Meléndez.
Yellow cards: López 70', Luna 90' - Herrera 13', Arboleda 35', Fierro 67', Córdoba 85'.
The second leg will be played in Medellín, Marte#1 Stadium, on Monday, 17 October 2022, kick-off at 2 pm local time.
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