Debut with victory for Los Leoncitos in the Junior World Cup

The Leoncitos began their participation in the U21 World Cup, against Japan, with a smile for the 4-1 victory against the Asians. Nicolás Rodríguez, Mateo Torrigiani and Bruno Correa, the names of the scorers in Argentina’s first match in the competition.

For the first time in historythe World Cup will be played by 24 junior teams. Until the last edition, there were 16 participants in four groups of four, starting this year it expanded to six pots of four.

At the beginning of the duel, Argentina came out to make a quick differenceafter a good defense by Joaco Ruiz on goal, Mateo Torrigiani managed to break the attack and get a short corner that later “Nico”Toto” Rodríguez (1′) changed for the first goal of the albiceleste contest.

During the second 15 minutes, Gilardi’s team tried to possess more of the ball, gain confidence, put together passes and suffocate the rival’s exit. The high pressure paid off and, after a good high recovery by Santiago Fernández, Mateo Torrigiani (24′) received the ball in the area and scored the second Argentine goal.

After the long break, the game became a transitionneither team took too many risks and Los Leoncitos tried to make the match long for their opponent to leave them far from their goal.

In the last quarter, Argentina won with momentum and determination, as demonstrated by one of the leaders Nicolás Rodríguez He went forward and with his push achieved a center that combined Bruno Correa (50′) for the goal. After that action, the Japanese did not stay with their arms crossed. and they got the discount with Naru Kimura (53′). It didn’t all end there. Gilardi’s men wanted more and Rodríguez from Córdoba (55′) appeared again: from the fixed route of a short corner, Totto managed to turn the play into a goal and close the debut with victory.

The little lions came out with: Joaquín Ruiz; Nicolás Rodríguez, Thiago Zalazar, Teo Barrena, Matías Andreotti; Lautaro Martínez, Tomás Ruiz ©, Juan Pedro Fernández; Mateo Serrano, Mateo Torrigiani and Bruno Correa. Substitutes: Lorenzo Somaini, Luca Dulor, Santiago Fernández, Lucas Borreti, Juan Borreti, Federico Hanselmann and Facundo Falchetto. DT: Juan Ignacio Gilardi

The next albiceleste duel will be on Sunday, November 30from 7:30 a.m. (ARG/CHI/URU) and on the DisneyPlus Premium Plan screen. In the last Argentine edition, also directed by Juan Ignacio Gilardi, they finished in 7th position in Kuala Lumpur.