It was a remarkable victory. Vélez dispatched Talleres with authority and no excuses. The team from Liniers, who had gone three league games without a win but are formidable at home, imposed their strategy against an opponent that never found its rhythm in the match. Not only did Vélez end Talleres’ streak of 13 league games without defeat (with seven wins and six draws), they also prevented Talleres from taking sole possession of the top spot in the league.
Vélez started stronger, with Aquino orchestrating play, Pizzini and Thiago Fernández providing width as wingers to supply Braian Romero and to pressure Talleres, disrupting their play and forcing errors. The Cordoban team looked uncomfortable: Botta, their playmaker, received the ball in tight spaces and with his back to goal, limiting his ability to connect with Martínez and Barticciotto. The full-backs, Benavídez and Navarro, known for their attacking prowess, had to be more cautious as Ribonetto’s defense occasionally left gaps.
Though not dominating possession outright, Vélez managed to execute their strategy and created the clearest chances of the first half. Thiago Fernández and Aquino missed opportunities before Braian Romero capitalized on his chance, giving Vélez a deserved halftime lead. Talleres, disjointed and imprecise, struggled to build coherent attacks.
In the second half, Talleres pushed forward more aggressively but left themselves exposed defensively, becoming disjointed and unbalanced. Vélez capitalized on the spaces created, with Aquino and Fernández extending their lead, which could have been even greater.
Vélez now extends their unbeaten home streak to nine games, with six wins and three draws. They completely overwhelmed Talleres, halting their recent momentum.
Thiago Fernández: “I’m filled with hope”
Not only did he score the third goal, but Thiago Fernández also played a key role in the other two goals against Talleres. “I needed a game like this to lift myself emotionally. I’m filled with hope,” said the 19-year-old winger. “We’ve reclaimed our identity. We played as a compact team and corrected our weakness, which was finishing chances,” analyzed the academy product.
Last night’s match marked his second goal for Vélez; his previous goal was on June 6 against Arsenal (2-1) in the Copa Argentina. “I’m really happy to score and help the team. Hopefully, I can maintain this form.”
Ribonetto: “Losing like this hurts”
Walter Ribonetto, Talleres’ coach, expressed his disappointment with the defeat. “Losing 3-0 is tough, but we have the team to bounce back. This defeat hurts, and we accept it,” he said. “We need to strengthen our attacking options. Otherwise, we’re in good shape.”