Matchups, Surprise Leads

This change of formation by Mario Binko left even the Hurricanes' own players and even the other coaches on the coaching staff dumbfounded, completely unaware that the head coach had such a clinical change of formation when the game was almost underway.

Assistant coach Andres Yarin objected, "Guv, we've been playing 352 and practicing 352 for a while now, if you adjust like this, you might disrupt the rhythm of our own men."

Binko asked rhetorically, "So do you think we can win if we play normally?"

Arin opened his mouth, but in the end nothing came out and he could only shake his head helplessly.

So much for the tentative adjustments to the starting lineup.

This impromptu adjustment upset the organizing committee as well, as the starting lists of both sides were given to the organizing committee an hour before the start of the match, which in turn was sent to the major TV stations for the commentators to announce to the TV viewers before the start of the match.

Now that the Hurricanes are adjusting their starting roster just as the game is about to start, it's only natural that the organizing committee and the TV stations are going to have their hands full for a while.

But Mario Binko naturally had his reasons, swearing that the striker he was supposed to start with had just suffered a muscle strain during the pre-match warm-up and couldn't play, so he had to temporarily adjust his starting line-up!

This a number of reasons, impeccable, the organizing committee can only pinch their noses and admit it, hurriedly hand and foot to notify the various cooperative media Hurricanes starting lineup changes, so that they read the two sides of the starting players list pay attention to a little bit, I do not know whether it is not too late.

The 2013/2014 Copa Argentina 1/16 final match between A-League giants Boca Juniors vs. A-League Hurricanes Athletic started at 20:00 p.m. local time on July 27 in Argentina with the referee's whistle, as Allen Velarde and the other substitutes sat on the bench to watch the game.

Mario Binko's impromptu change of formation caught even his own team players and coaches off guard and dumbfounded them, not to mention Boca Juniors.

Both in terms of last season's lineup and this season's pre-season preparation training, as well as the two warm-up games, Hurricane Athletic played a 352 single back, two front line formation.

The game was about to start when Mario Binko made an impromptu change.

I don't know if Boca Juniors were too gullible and careless, but Mario Binko's unexpected change of formation really paid off.

Federico Bismarra's poise and Lucas Villarruel's youthful physicality complemented each other, not only sweeping up most of the attacks in front of the three center backs and leaving Boca scoreless in the first half, but also in the 56th minute of the second half during a transition from defense to offense, when Lucas picked up the ball at the back of the net and instigated a quick counterattack, which culminated with a great pass from Torranzo to striker Avila who grabbed the spot in the penalty box and smashed the shot in, helping Athletic Hurricanes open the scoring. Hurricane Athletics opened the scoring and took a 1-0 lead on the road.

The moment he saw the ball flying into the goal, even Velarde, whose mental age has already reached 36, couldn't help but excitedly leap up from the bench, shouting and hissing loudly, not to mention the other substitutes, assistant coaches, team doctors and other staff.

Everyone applauded, cheered, and yelled with excitement while incredulously asking each other for confirmation:

"Got in?"

"Did it really go in?"

"We scored?"

"We're actually ahead of Boca Juniors?"

"Haha, it's so energizing!"

"If I could win, I'd be willing to do it even if I didn't play!"

"That's it! Go Hurricanes, beat Boca and advance to the round of 16!"

"Long live Hurricane Athletics!"

This goal not only let the bench players on the sidelines and the Hurricanes away fans in the stands excited, but also let the Hurricanes players in the stadium morale, because a long time being pressed to play and on the verge of collapse of the spirit and fighting spirit, at this time not only did not break down, but also morale, and more tenacious up.

After the restart of the game, Boca Juniors, who had been attacked for a long time, but had a goal stolen by the opponent's counterattack, became furious and replaced two attacking players on the field, changing from 433 to 334, launching waves after waves of fierce attacks on the Hurricanes' defense area.

But an even more unexpected scene appeared, not only did Mario Binco not strengthen his defense because of the leading score and the frantic attack of the opponent, but he withdrew a wingback and replaced it with a more offensive winger, pushed Lucas Villarruel into the center forward position, changed the formation to 3142, and played a counterattack with Boca Juniors.

There is no doubt that this is a suicidal dimwit formation if the game ends up lost.

But in reality, this is the 352 single back, double front, double forward offensive formation that Hurricane Athletics themselves are most accustomed to, and which everyone plays much more comfortably.

Despite being undermanned at the back, the Hurricanes were on defense, with the front backs, halfbacks, wingbacks, and even the forwards, desperately sprinting back and forth to get involved in the return, united in their desire to hold on to the lead.

Boca Juniors themselves were no match for the Hurricanes, who were never able to break down the Hurricanes.

Boca Juniors had a great shooting opportunity in the 64th minute when front man Castellani broke down the left side of the field and sent a sublime ground cross that just about evaded the Hurricanes defender at the front post and rolled straight into the box in front of the goal.

Boca striker Federico Carrizo tapped in and managed to grab the first point with a diving shot before Hurricanes center back Santiago Echeberria.

The ball was so close to the goal that it didn't allow the goalkeeper to react, and almost as soon as he touched the ball and didn't touch it directly to the keeper, it went in.

Whether it was goalkeeper Marcos Diaz in front of the goal, Hurricanes players in and around the penalty box, or substitutes and coaches on the sidelines, as well as Hurricanes fans on the field and in front of the TV, hearts were in their throats.

The Boca Juniors coaches and substitutes on the sidelines, as well as the Boca fans in the stands and in front of the TV, had their hands up and were ready to celebrate the goal.

As it turned out, the near goal opportunity, although Federico Carrizo grabbed the first point, but not able to kick the ball into the goal, but in the flying shoveling loss of gravity, kicked the ball flying over the crossbar.

You know, the point of touch is less than 5 meters from the goal!

So close, such a big goal, as long as the ball is kicked, the ball does not directly touch the goalkeeper, basically a sure goal.

He ended up deflecting the ball off the crossbar.

The commentators exclaimed:

"Castellani crosses in front of the goal!"

"Good chance!"

"Carrizo!"

"Shoot!!!"

"Oh..."

"Oh my God!"

"I can't believe that goal didn't go in???"

"Carrizo actually kicked the ball away?"

"Boca Juniors had a great chance to score a must-win goal, but didn't expect Carrizo to kick the ball away in front of goal."

"Unbelievably, luck wasn't on Boca Juniors' side either, as Carrizo missed a chance to be a hero and help his team equalize."

"If Boca Juniors lose this game in the end, Federico Carrizo will be cursed by the fans for this goal!"

There was also a neat sigh of relief from the entire 20,000+ fans at the Candy Box Stadium, all quite incredulous that Carrizo missed this sure-fire chance to equalize.

Federico Carrizo was also sitting in the box, pounding the ground repeatedly with his right hand in a fist, obviously also quite chagrined at having missed such a sure-fire goal scoring opportunity.

As for the Hurricanes side, while escaping with their lives, they naturally felt that Lady Luck was also on their side today, and that it would be unreasonable not to win, and they all fought even harder, vowing to bring down the super giants, Boca Juniors.

After the restart of the game, Boca Juniors continued to attack, while the Hurricanes continued to attack and defend. Defending the whole team to retreat, get the ball almost a swarm, a number of attacking players in front of the attack, but also gave Boca Juniors not a small amount of pressure.

Of course, because of the small number of defenders themselves, the distance run by each full-time defender was a bit on the high side, and 31-year-old Federico Bismara, though he wanted to fight until the last moment, was too old, and suddenly collapsed on the ground in the 71st minute with a cramp in his thighs after a ball-tackling exchange with the other team.

The commentators have said:

"The Hurricanes' star back Federico Bismara went down with cramps."

"The Hurricanes are in a little bit of danger right now."

"The Hurricanes backline has held up so far and Federico Bismara's experience has played a huge role."

"Although it doesn't look like he made many direct tackles, he was in a key position every time, jamming the path of Boca Juniors' attacks or passes, slowing down the opposing attack and buying time for his own teammates to get back on defense."

"This is a player who plays with brains and experience."

"Unfortunately, now that he's got a thigh cramp, the Hurricanes are definitely going to have to make a change."

"But Lucas Villarruel has been pushed up to center forward, and even if he were to drop back, he doesn't have the experience or defensive skills of Bismara, and it's really hard to say whether he can withstand the onslaught of the attacking pack of super giants Boca Juniors."

"And the Hurricanes' bench now consists of just one 21-year-old back-rower, Alan Velarde."

"This is the Hurricanes' own substitute, but also recorded just two substitute appearances all of last season, playing less than 20 minutes total."

"Can a youngster like that replace Bismara and take on the role of iron midfielder and blocking most of Boca Juniors' attacks?"

While the commentators were talking like this, the Hurricanes team doctor had entered the field to examine Bismara, and Mario Binko on the sidelines beckoned Velarde, who was warming up, to his side.

Velarde excitedly came to the manager's side, Mario Binko put his arm around his shoulder and said gruffly in his ear: "Velarde, Bismarck has pulled a muscle and can't hold on anymore. Lucas needs to take on the attacking duties, and I'll have to send you on to play as a defensive back and take care of the interceptions in the midfield. Now we are still leading 1-0, as long as we hold on for another twenty minutes or so, we can win against Boca Juniors and create a dragon slaying legend, can you do it?"

Knowing that the opportunity was rare, Velarde immediately nodded his head firmly and said, "Don't worry, chief, I'm determined to complete the mission."